IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


lis 


*^  1^    12.2 

li 


I 


11-25  i  1.4 


m 


—    6" 


!.6 


^%. 


<^  '  >1 


^G^ 


'/ 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WeST  MAIN  STGiiT 

WiB&Yi!(l,i%   r    14SI0 

(716)  S72-4S03 


4 


N^ 


<^'^ 


;\ 


^^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notat  tachniquat  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Inatituta  hat  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturat  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raprcduction,  or  which  may  tignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


ry|r  Colourad  covars/ 

I  y  '    Couvartura  da  coulaur 


r~1    Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagia 


□    Covers  rastorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/ou  pelliculAe 

l~~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


n 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giogrephiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noirel 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relit  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reiiure  serrte  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  edded  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte, 
meis,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmtas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  coulaur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtas 


□   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pelliculAes 

r~r/  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Lkj    Pages  dAcolortes,  tachattes  ou  piqutes 

□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

I     V  Showthrough/ 
Lkl   Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit^  intgaie  de  ('impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
»tb.,  ont  M  filmtes  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th( 
to 


Th( 
poi 
of 
filr 


Ori 
be, 
«hf 
sio 
otii 
fin 
sio 
or  J 


Th< 
shi 
Tl^ 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
en^ 
be^ 

me 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dassoua. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


MX 


28X 


32X 


t 

tails 
(  du 
odifier 
une 
mage 


Th«  copy  filmad  har*  haa  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  laglbility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  In  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacificatlons. 


L'axamplaira  film*  f ut  raproduit  grica  A  ia 
gAn4rosit4  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  4ti  raprodultas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  prlntad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
*.ha  last  paga  with  a  prlntad  or  illustratad  Impras- 
sion.  or  tha  oack  covar  whan  appropriate.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printed  or  illustratad  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustratad  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  examplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
darniire  paga  qui  comporta  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  ia  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  paga  qui  comporta  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  an  termlnant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  platen   charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tablaeux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nicessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithoda. 


Brrata 
to 


pelure, 
>n  i 


D 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

CO 


A   H 


# 


4„. 


.    t. 


A  NARRATIVE 


or 


IStient0  anil  Biffitultitu 


IN    THE 


COLONIZATION  OF  OREGON, 


AND   THE 


SETTLEMENT  OF  CALIFOUNIA; 


ASD,    ALSO, 


A   HIstORY  OF  THE  CJ^AIBi  9F  AMERICAN   CITIZENS  TO 
LANDS  ON  QUADRA'S  ISLAND  :      ** 

vw  ■■*4'   * 


'# 


TOOBTIIER    WITH 


-^ 


•» 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  TROUBLES  AND  TRIBULATIONS 

ENDURED  BETWEEN  THE  YEARS  1824  AND 

1R52,  BY  THE   WRITER, 

HALT.  J.   KELLEY. 


BOSTON: 

RINTED   BY   THURSTON,   TORRY   it   EMERnON. 

1852. 


'•■i 


*■,. 

■%.. 


m 


% 


.V 


».  »  «^ 


/ 


p.- 


JM 

9^^^ 


*      #     • 


#  - 


H-. 


^ 


r 


*^ 


i? 


';i' 


t,^ 


« 


■*. 


*    ■     ,Ar- 


•» 


»<ii^| 


^*^v 


4 


/ 


r  A  NAURATIVK 


/ 


OF 


S^entfii  anTi  l^ittitnltitn 


IN  Tin: 


COLONTZATTON  OP  OREGON, 


\NU  Tin: 

settlemen;  of  CALIFOKNTA: 

AND,    AL>(I, 

A   HISTORY   OF  THE   ('T,AIM  OP  AAH-'-RlCAN   CITI/F.XS    I'O 
LANDS  ON   QUADRA'S   ISLAND  ; 

TOOKTIIKIl    WITH 

AN    ACCOUNT  OF  TFIE  TROUBLES   AND  TRIBULATIONS 

i:\nUREl)  BETWEEN  THE  YEARS  ISlM   AND 

isrc',   BY  THE    WRITER, 

}IA[,I,   J.    KMIJ.KY. 


n  O  S  T  O  \  : 

PRINTED   BY   THURSTON,    TORRY   ic   EMERSON. 

I  STi'i. 


,1, 


! 


N.r 


'w 


\ 


N  A  II  \l  \  T  I  V  K . 


CHAPTKU   I. 

Tm:  coloiii/.ation  of  Orcf^'on  was  botli  rouccivod  and 
achieved  hy  inc.*  History  records,  that  the  stroni;est 
in(hicenient  for  tlie  iouiuUn^  of  the  first  setth'nient  in 
\ew  England,  was  '•  tin*  hope  of  layin<i-  a  foundation  for 
the  advancement  of  reliijion  and  tlu>  kinj^doin  of  Christ." 
The  hope  of  acconiplisliiny;  th(^  same  tliinijj  on  the  other 
side  of  tlic  "new  worhl,"  diieHy  in(hiced  the  "services 
and  sacrifices"  so  freely  mad(>  by  me.  'I'liat  colonization 
was  an  np-hill  work,  ])erfor!ned  in  the  way  and  manner 
stated  in  my  nieniorials  of  the  last  thirteen  years  l.ci'on; 
Coni;r(\ss.  It  was  performed  alone,  without  a  single  co- 
adjutor to  ^o  with  and  stand  hy  me.  It  retjuired  <;reat 
sacrifices  of  time  and  property,  and  extraordinary  personal 
efforts,  on  account  of  the  war  wai;-cd  aii'ainst  it,  —  the  o[)- 
position  hy  the  North-west  coast  traders  and  the  friends 
and  hirelini's  of  th(>  Hudson  I'avC'omiJanv,  men  interested 
to  thwart  mv  nio\ements  and  to  crush  the  nndertakinji;. 
'J'houii'h  ])owerfully  oppui^ned.  it  was  not  a  litth^  encour- 
aijcu  l)v  niniihns  hihJ  coniniittirs  of  Ctun/ir.s'f  and  hv  the 


*  S('('  llisi.  ol'llic  Colfiiii/juinii  of  Oregon,  |i.  .'). 

t  Till'  linn.  I'.  Kvcri'it,  ( 'li.iiniiMii  oT  tlic  liilnviry  Cominittff,  was 
iiislnictf'd  1(1  CDimnuiiicalc  to  iii''  tluit  tli''  i-oimiiittc;'  Ii;hI  pliiccd  at  mv 
(lis|ius;il  a  s«>t  ol'tlif  laws  iil'tlK'  I  iiitcil  States  :  ami  Mi".  Afdu'r,  cdiair- 
iiiaii  (if  Cnmiiiittci'  111  [•"(iiriirii  Atlitirs,  was  instructed  to  say,  that 
|)roli(:liuii  would  be  givuu  to  any  st'ltlciiictU  wliicli  I  mifflit  in:ikc  in 
Oregon. 


Pacific  N.  W.  History  Dept 

PROVINCIAL   LIBRARY 
VICTORIA,  B.  C. 


i, 

n 


Iu'^hIs  otsoiiic  otthc  t'.rrrittin'  (h-jntrtnu'tfts  ;  and  my  haiuls 
were  stiTii<j:th<'n('(l  l>y  a  f(>w  true-liearted  and  i»ul»li<- 
spiiited  (iti/ciis. 

My  {>arly  eftorts  \\(  re  made  known  in  newspajxTarticleN, 
lectures,  eireulars,  pampldets.  books,  memorials  to  Con- 
gress, and  in  a  j^M-neral  correspondence  with  citi/<'ns  in  all 
parts  of  the  Union,  and  with  enter|»risino;  I'renchnun  and 
(iermans.  Xothinu  was  (oncealed  from  the  public  view. 
Kvery  mimitia.  eitiier  in  plan  or  |)ur[)()se,  Avas  eNjMJScd  to 
the  scrutiny  and  e.\iK»sition  of  adversaries.  Tlien'  werr- 
otiier  objects  tliau  tbat  of  malvin<j^  the  fj^reat  natural  re- 
sources of  Oregon  aNailablc  to  ])urposes  of  individual  and 
national  pros[»erity.  Tbe  ini])rovement  of  the  condition, 
moral,  sociah  and  pliysical.  of  the  Indians,  was  a  lieart- 
felt  ol)ject.  I  was  impatient  to  etfect  that  object,  and 
hastened  forward  to  bc^jjin  to  rescue  from  the  rutidess 
])ower  of  white  men,  and  to  save  from  utter  extermination 
tiu"  woful  renuiant  of  tlie  benii;bted  ami  sufterin*;  ]ieo[»le 
on  our  western  frontier;  and  to  eidii;iiten,  dignify,  and 
make  the;n  happy.     '^'''     ])hui,  siv  Ajtpendix.) 

AVhile  in  the  pro?-  on  of  tlu^  enter])rise.  it  did  not 
so  much  as  enter  my  n  md  ever  to  Jipjdy  to  C'on«iji'ess  for 
relief,  or  a  reward  for  any  servic(\s  or  sacrifices  which  1 
miijfht  H'uder  tlie  country  ;  hut.  after  its  achievement,  and 
my  return  home,  in  1N:J().  —  tinchnj^^  my  health  yreatly 
impaired,  my  propcn-ty,  and  the  \cy\  means  of  actpurinj^ 
pro])erty,  gone ;  and  considering  the  nature  of  the  circum- 
stances which  ])reA(>nt(Hl  the  selection  and  occu|)ancy  of  a 
lot  of  land  in  the  Valley  of  the  Wallamct.*  and  also  the 
circumstances  which  de])ri\('d  me  of  a  participation  hi  the 
abundant  harvest  of  the  fields  I  had  sown.  I  thought  it 
my  duty  to  5»i)ply  for  help;  and  accordingly,  in  1831),  did 


*  Capt.  ^fcck,  the  ( )rcirnii  a^ciit  at  Wasliiiigtoii,  in  1S4N,  saiil,tlia  the; 
lands  beloiniiiiiz  ti>  tli<-;  tirst  sfttlf-Ts  were  of  jfroat  value,  being  of  tlio 
iii'st  elidice  and  of  the  best  f|iuility.  Each  lot,  lie  said,  might  Se 
reasonably  estimated  at  >'-^(),00(). 

A  lot  oi'no  inori'  than  the  si/e  eonfirmed  by  the  ginernment  to  each 
person  of  that  colony,  made  by  me,  and  ut  my  expense,  would  have 
I)cen  worth,  long  before  this,  from  $'20,000  to  $30,000. 


■M 


appl).  I  then,  :is  now.  iiskcd  ii  doiiiitioii.  in  land  or 
nioncN,  sntficitiit  to  sujiply  ni<'  awhili'  >\ith  a  conqH'- 
tciK  V  of  liicad,  and  to  candl  d('l)ts  contracted  when  jirc- 
paiinu:  *<"  tlio  cM'cnfion  of  tliat  work  of  conntiy  and 
linin;init\. 

'I'lic  fiist  petition  was  presented  in  tlu;  Senate,  and 
reterred  to  the  .s(  lect  committee  on  Oregon.  It  set  forth 
rlie  thini::s  done  and  sntiered  in  colonizinij;  Oreiion.  and  in 
i)rinuini:f  ahont  the  settlement  of  llin'h  California.*  Ac- 
companying- docnnients  snhstaidiated  its  ;dlei;ations,  and 
v(>riHed  every  statement.  The  chairman  of  the  committee 
hein<;'  satisfied  of  this  fa(  t.  wrote  me.  in  IS-IO.  as  follows:  — 
"AMien  any  thinj^  definite  is  done."  (referring  to  the  'Ok- 
jj^-on  (jiuNtion.*)  "yijiir  claims  will  tli<'n  j)resent  themsehcs. 
with  a  jiower  not  to  be  resisted.  n[»on  the  moAennuenl  ; 
and  slionld  1  rcnniin  in  Congross,  you  may  depend  on,  ;it 
least,  my  assistam'c." 

''  I'eelinj;  deej)  sympathy  for  your  losses,  hardships,  and 
afHicticnis,  I  remain ." 

I  had  considered  well  the  nature  of  the  enter[)rise,  and 
foresaw  its  results,  and  was  inspired  with  the  ho]K'  that 
it  Avould  in  no  inconsiderable  dciiree  contribut<'  to  the 
amount  of  means  dixinely  used  for  hastenini^'  the  s]U'ead 
of  Christianity.  Avith  civil  freedom,  over  tin'  world.  J 
counted  the  cost,  and  was  ready  to  make  the  sacrifiee. 

In  1824,  beyond  ])rovidinii'  for  my  household,  1  resohed 
to  d(>vote  myself  w  holly  to  the  enterprise ;  and  declined 
every  proffer  of  business,  or  of  silver  and  gold,  which 
might  turn  my  attention  from  it.  The  strength  of  that 
resolution  was,  in  18'}(),  brought  to  a  test.  In  that  yettr, 
I  was  invited  to  take  the  lead  of  things  in  Texas ;  and 
was  pressed  hard  to  engage  in  that  service,  —  was  offered 


*  It  \V!is  originally  my  jmrposr  to  follow  tiu;  KCftk-mcrit  of  Oregon, 
with  tliat  of  AltaCuliforiiia.  I  coiil  1  foresee  that  tin-  tide  of  otnigration 
to  the  fonnor,  when  setting  liigh,  voulcl  break  across  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vadii,  and  flow  into  the  latter.  One  of  the  objects  of  niv  (-irciiitousi 
route  through  the  city  of  .Mexico  and  the  Californias,  was  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  accomplishing  that  purpose.  See  Appendi.x,  under  the 
head,  Skttlement  ov  Camfoknia. 


i 


if 


0 


in  tlio  outset,  us  roinijciisjition  for  tli("  Hist  year,  in  hinds 
imd  money,  uliat  WMs  r<|ui\iil('nl  to  S ■-*<>.'''>•  ^  -  so  con- 
sidered by  on<'  ol'tlie  directors  ot"  the  society  instituted  in 
New  York,  eni;a<j;e(l  in  settling'  lli;it  (ountry.  No  consid- 
natiiuis  of  a  woddly  nature  conhi  turn  me  from  the  field 
where  1  liad  comnKMiced  lahor.  and  hoped  to  n\ake  myself 
eminently  useful. 

I  was  called  to  sacrifice  domestic  comforts  ;nid  felici- 
ties, and  the  social  enjoyments  clnsteriiifj;  alont  liom<'. 
Seeiui,'  me  not  inclined  to  ^'i\v  up  hii,di  asj)irations  and 
])hilanthropic  ]H'ojects,  and  to  come  down  to  less  honor- 
able and  dii^nified  ])ursuits;  and  to  mal\(>  the  ac(inisition 
of  j)ro])erty  my  chief  aiuj  and  object,  kindred  and  friends 
forsook  me.  ]Iad  their  advice  been  closely  followed, 
thiuii's,  possibly,  Avould  have  <,n)ne  well  with  me,  excepting- 
the  cares  and  anxieties  incidental  to  th(>  possession  of 
wealth,  and  a  constant  (piarrel  with  conscience. 

Tlu^  enterprise  re(piirc>(l  me  to  sacrifice*  <;rratly  on  real 
estate.  'J'here  was  a  loss  of  scleral  thousand  dollars  on 
my  estat(>  in  Milk  JJow,  Charlestown  ;  but,  much  more  on 
other  estates.  There  were  four,*  which  alone,  couhl  the 
time  have  been  spared  to  look  after  tluMU  a  few  years 
longer,  would  lunx*  made  me  wealtliy.  They  had  been 
purchased  in  anticipation  of  imi»rovenu'nts  which  it  was 
suj)j)osed  would  much  enhance  their  value.  Their  worth 
to  me,  in  1840  and  after,  would  have  been  ^.')(),0()()  over 
the  amount  of  their  first  cost.  lIowcAcr,  I  was  in  haste, 
and  could  not  be  delayed  ;  and  tlierefore,  gave  them  u])  to 
cnnlitors  aiul  brutish  men  ;  the  latter  fiercely  grasping 
after  them,  j)artly  with  a  view  to  im])overish  me,  and  to 
break  down  the  spirit  of  enterprise  within  me. 


*  Oiii!  comprised  tsvclvc  acres  of  liind  ;  and  is  .simate  near  Craui(;'s 
Point,  ill  Cliarlesiowii.  It  is  intersected  willi  a  railroad  ;  and  made  the 
foundation  <il'  a  jileasant  vilhifie.  The  otiier  lliree  consisted  of  lioiise-s 
and  lands,  siliiatr  in  IJoston,  where  at  tiiis  time  are  tlir  bowell,  tiie 
Eastern,  and  the  Western  railroad  drpots. 


m 


i:\i'i;ni)Iii  iii;s  and  lossks  i\  '|-imk  and  im{()Im:uty. 
T/ir  Piihlir  T„   i:„li,pns,,   Dr. 

lllrvfii  viiirs,  ii|(  lo  |N.'{t>.  at  8-000  |ii'r  y«',ii',  —  !i  rriisoiKiMi,' 
ratio,  cKiisiilci'iii'^r  wlitii  I  cdiilil  liJisr  nali/i'il,  if  in  liraitli, 
at  railinaii  iiin;iiir('riii^      ...... 

Fil'li'di  years,  m|i  to  IN.VJ,  (tlif  y<iir  iN.'H  ^i'r\  iim  at  my  pro- 
I'fssioiial  l)iisiiicNS,  is  nut  ivclxuncil,)  at  >(l.'>00  |icr  y«;ar 

I'niilisliin^  ln.uivs  iuni  iraiMs,  wliicli  were  sjircail  alioiit  tin; 
fduntry,  <'s|)ccially  anniMif  iIh'  iiiililic.  men  at  \\'asliiiit.rt((n    . 

'I'ravcllin^'  Tor  the  |ii.i|i()si'  ul'  Icriuiin^',  or  latliiT  talkinjr,  to 
awaki'n  aUniiuin  to  tlir  oltjccts  of  tin;  fntiTprisc,  and  to  en- 
list scttlrrs        ..." 

r..\|t<'nscs  at  Wasliinirton,  scvrral  sessions  of  Con^M'i'ss,  to 
cnli^litcn  coniTrniM^  tlie  inlirrsts  of  iIk;  I'niti'il  States  in 
Oreuon,  and  to  secnre  pnltlie  |iatrona<i(3      .... 

Till'  jiricesof  two  sliares  of  tli(!  Ore(fon  stoek.and  five  eertifi- 
cates,  *  the  one  JjlOO,  the  other  !iJ*.iO  e«eli,  hiwfnily  issued 
hy   tlio    "  ()i'e<;on  Coloni/ ii: m   Society," 
lH;n  ;  sohl  hy  the  general  ajrent  of  tlie  society 

Loss  on  the  hrij:  'Moiui  (J.  Adams,"  in  \WA'i 

Loss  at  Three  Kiveis,  Palmer,  in  IsJlli 

Loss  at  New  Orleans,  in  IHIKJ 

Loss  at  Vera  Cruz        ..... 

Loss  hv  robbers,  near  Sulaniuncu,  Mexico     . 


nR..,-jtorated   m 


«i'2'i,000 

500 

200 
500 


:ioo 
;joo 

300 

30!) 

11. 'JO 

•-J00 


Interest  on  the  several  sums  as  above  stated  to  1852,  .about 


$  1H,2.^.0 
HJ,000 


Amount,     8132,250 

Tlieso  arc  tlio  sacrifices  directly  made  ;  and  tlicy  in- 
clude none  of  the  liardships  and  suft'erinj^fs  of  the  loiu>ly 
and  perilous  journey  of  six  thousand  miles,  niucli  of 
Avhich  was  made  throuj^h  a  >vilderness,  and  throuji^h  coini- 
tries  infest(>d  with  bands  of  savau^e  men,  —  none  of  the 
domestic  atHictions  brought  upon  me  by  the  enemies  of 
the  enter[)rise,  —  nothini;  of  this  twenty  years  of  terrible 
persecution. 

•  Imnicdiatelv  after  th(!  Oregon  expedition  was  broken  np,  tlie 
amount  received  for  stock  and  eertifieates  was  refnlnled,  all  but  the 
above,  which,  circumstances  rendc-ed  inconvenient  and  improper  then 
to  restore.     When  able,  I  shall  refund  thr«m. 


1] 


IJ 


8 


1 


CllAPIEK   II. 

REMARKABLE    I'ROVIDKNCKS   BKTWRKN  THK  YEARS    IS'.irt   AMI     1 835. 

In  early  youth,  soparatiiii;'  from  idle  ronipaiiioiis,  and 
Icaviiiii'  tlio  sports  and  frivolities  of  boyhood,  1  bei;an  to 
walk  alone,  and  to  eonsider  on  days  to  come.  At  tlie  a<;e 
of  twelve,  it  divinely  ha]ipeni-d  to  me,  as  iie\er  before,  nor 
shice;  I  was  then  premonished  of  Avhat  Avas  to  ))<>  the 
manner  of  my  life  —  an  entire  depend(Mice  on  (iod  for 
help  to  do,  in  accordance  with  his  will,  the  thiniis  which 
my  hands  should  tind  to  do ;  and  so  it  came  to  pass.  1 
have  been  all  day,  at  laborious  service  in  the  field,  and  no 
felloAV-mortal  has  Avrought  with  me ;  but  many  Inne  bec^n 
about,  to  hind(>r,  to  vex,  and  to  crush  ni(>.  The  Almighty 
has  sustained  me  ;  and  in  benevolent  enter])rises,  and  acts 
of  brotherly  kindness,  has  made  nn;  "  strong  as  a  lion  and 
swift  as  an  eagle." 

The  wavs  of  a  riijhteous  Providence  arc  inscrutable  to 
mortals.  In  all  my  past  career  they  have  seemed  i)artic- 
ularly  and  wonderfully  merciful,  yet  mysterious.  I  talk 
of  great  achievements,  yet  am  I  one  of  the  least  of  the 
instrumentalities  employed  in  the  spreading  of  knowledge, 
and  the  advancing  of  the  work  of  the  Iledecmer's  king- 
dom. When  feeling  the  strongest,  I  am  made  the  most 
sensible  of  weithicss  ;  when  prond,  am  made  humble. 
Once,  I  increased  in  riches,  "  grew  fat  and  kicked  against 
the  liOrd,"  and  my  adxersarics  came,  and  took  awat/  mij 
possessions.  Confident  in  my  abilities  to  declaim  and, 
otherwise,  to  hold  forth  before  the  public  on  the  side  of 
l)hilanthropy ;  and,  great  diffidence  came  upon  me.  After 
some  mortifying  failures,  1  h^arncd  to  be  silent,  was  more 
wise,  cared  less  to  make  an  outside  shoie,*  and  more;  to 


*  Since  these  c'vcnts,  T  have  been  unable  to  converse  witliotit  stn7n- 
JHcrini:,  or  to  irritr  rradih/,  or  .-uloni  my  compositions  with  the  ordinary 
ombfllislimcnts  of  rlietoric. 

I  never  hail  skill  at  composition;  my  thoutrhts  being  always  occupied 


M 


make  faith  and  woi'Ks  my  worth.  I  boj^an  to  hoast  of 
what  my  coiiimunications  with  iiitcUiuciit  and  public- 
s[)iiit('d  men,  and  my  books  and  tracts,  spread  about  tho 
land,  were  ctt'cctinii^  in  tlio  tick!  of  benevolent  enterprise, 
witldioldin<j(  fr(»m  the  Mij^hty  and  Beneficent  God  too 
much  of  tlu'  praise  due  him ;  and  T  was  smitten  by  the 
liand  of  the  Lord ;  and  become,  comparatively, dumb  before 
tlu'  people.  My  mind,  between  the  years  1830  and  1835, 
was  tbrice  terribly  shoc^ked;  and  physical  nature,  partially 
paraly/<Ml  by  the  thunder  of  my  cruel  enemies'  power. 
TIk;  chastisements  of  the  Lord,  and  His  j^ioat  mercies 
durinj?  tlu^  period  of  entire  devotion  to  the  work  of  colo- 
nizing ()refi:on,  kejit  the  s])irit  up  and  active,  and  made 
me  a  better  man. 

^^  hen  travelling  in  distracted  Mexico,  in  1S33,  I  fell 
among  robbers  ;  and  was  a  night  and  day  in  their  power ; 
but  God  broke  up  their  plans,  and  delivered  me  with  my 
beasts  and  baggage  from  their  bloody  hands,  even  without 
so  much  as  the  loss  of  a  hair  of  my  head. 

Once,  the  riile  was  discharged  upon  me;  but  the  death- 
bound  bullet  was  made  to  miss  the  mark. 

The  most  remarkable  interposing  providence  in  the 
course  of  my  perilous  adventures,  in  the  wilderness,  oc- 
curred just  after  crossing  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  entering 
Oregon.  I  will  relate  the  particulars.  My  party  was 
providentially  made  to  halt  at  the  wvy  moment  when  the 
fever  and  ague  contracted,  while  on  the  low  and  pestilen- 
tial tracts  on  the  southern  region  of  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  was  having  its  worst  (>ff"ect  upon  me ;  and  when  I 


in  other  business.  My  aspiration  has  boon,  morc^o  the  att..inmcnt  of 
preeminonc»^  as  an  architect  tiian  as  a  painter.  For  the  business  of 
the  former,  I  tiiink  I  have  been  measurably  qualified  with  scit-nce  and 
skill  ;  while,  in  that  of  tiio  latter,  have  been  an  ordinary  performer. 
My  structures  have,  uniformly,  l>e(  n  well  planned,  and  made  of  durable 
materials;  but  my  enemies,  takinfj  udvantafje  of  tho  homely  appearance 
my  brush  has  given  them,  liave  not  a  little  injured  my  reputation. 
Seeking  constantly  to  do  me  harm,  they  have  ascribed  every  work  of 
magnificence  and  utility  performed  by  me,  to  the  skill  and  industry  of 
persons,  who  have  not  had  mind  enough  to  plan  or  execute  the  least  of 
them. 


10 


could  no  loiipxi'  1)1'  boi'iie  on  lioist'back.  My  strciif^tli 
had  rapidly  -vvabtc'd,  and  at  times,  I  laintctl  and  fell  from 
the  saddle. 

"While  in  a  thickly  ^vooded  mountain,  it  suddenly  came 
on  dark,  and  \\v  were  oblii^ed  to  sto])  for  tiu^  nii^ht,  in  the 
midst  of  Avoods  and  thick  darkness.  Lowering-  partly 
down  from  the  animal,  I  fell ;  the  stones  and  leaves  on 
which  I  fell  composed  my  bed.  In  the  morning',  it  was 
found  that  some  of  the  horses  and  jjacked  mules  had 
strayed  away.  We,  liowev(^r,  proceeded  on  tMo  or  three 
miles,  and  encamped  on  an  open  patch  of  jj^round.  ('a])t. 
Young-,  my  conductor,*  and  the  men  who  had  l)een  of  his 
Inmting  })arty,  returned  to  the  mountains  to  search  after 
the  lost  animals.  This  caused  a  ilclaj/.  The  five  marau- 
ders who  had  attached  themselves  to  mv  i)artv,  two  davs 
after  leaving  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  remained  in  camp, 
and  were  jocose  and  profane  about  the  tire.  I  was  uow 
shaking  like  an  aspen  leaf,  prostrate  and  helpless  in  my 
tent. 

The  place  of  this  encampment  was  upon  the  high  land 
near  the  sources  of  the  principal  rivers  watering  the  two 
countries,  to  settle  which,  I  had  spent  my  best  days,  my 
fortune,  and  all  my  earthly  comforts.  l)eath  appeared 
inevitable;  earth  seemed  at  an  end;  and  the  portal  of 
glory,  to  h  <  -pening.  Conversation  in  the  camp  paused  ; 
and  nov.  ,i\i.  angel  came  to  comfort  mo  —  "  Cheer  up, 
be  iv  ^  ;.im,d ; "  '•  Balm  and  a  physician  "  arc  here ;  "  God 
is  thy  helper,  and  he  will  deliver  thee."  In  the  solitude; 
of  that  wilderness,  where  none  but  Indians  and  hunters 
had  roamed  —  at  tliat  still  moment,  I  heard  from  a  short 
distance,  that  shrill  voice,  so  often  heard  in  civilized  lands 
—  even  the  ^  oice  of  a  cockerel,  a  domestic,  bird,  a  chieftain 
among  his  race,  so  wont  to  celebrate  his  own  triumphs, 
now  loudly  crowing,  as  though  exulting  in  the  triumphs 
of  my  enterprise,  and  proclaiming,  "  Xow  it  is  achieved; 
now,  in  this  wilderness,  is  fixed  thy  abode  of  civilization  ; 


<!'» 


^ 


*  Sec  tinpritited  paper  F.,  Appendix,  Slamm's  Report,  Senate  Docu- 
ment, lh37-8,  No.  24. 


11 


'^tl 


now,  and  heiicefoith.  niv  Noice  and  the  voici;  of  the  turtlt^ 
dove  shall  he  hoard  in  this  hwuV  Thoujnrh  clu^oring,  yet 
it  was  painful,  like  other  associations  ^vhicll  it  caused 
to  crowd  into  the  mind.  'I'hen,  suddenly,  another  voice 
was  IumIU.  a  strjinj^er  coming-  into  the  camp,  inquired 
—  "  AA'liere  is  Capt.  Jvelley  ? ''  He  came  to  my  tent  and 
said  he  was  Capt.  I-a  Fiambois,  from  the  Columhia  lliver; 
and  had  been  Avith  his  party  of  tra})])ers  to  the  IJay  of 
8an  Francisco,  where  he  had  heard  of  me ;  and  that,  he 
had  /((fstciu'd  to  o\ertake  my  party,  havini^  had  nothinji: 
more  for  his  jjuidc  than  the  traces  of  our  encainpments. 
He  kindly  toolc  charge  of  my  efl'ects,  and  remoAed  me  to 
his  camp.  This  good  Samaritan  first  administered  a  dish 
of  venison  hrotli ;  and  then,  in  proper  time,  a  portion  of 
([uinine.  The  third  portioii,  taken  on  the  s(>cond  day, 
tlisinisscd  the  endemic  monster.  After  two  days  at  that 
[)lace,  I  was  ahle  to  stand  upon  my  legs,  but,  unable  to 
walk.  Before  leaving  the  ever-memorable  spot  where  my 
immortal  s])irit  had  nigh  taken  its  departure  from  earth, 
the  Captain  engaged  an  Indian  chief  to  take  me  in  a 
canoe,  forty  or  iifty  miles  down  tlie  Umpqiui.  At  iirst 
the  chief  declined,  saying,  that  the  upp(>r  part  of  the 
river  was  not  navigable.  Finally,  in  view  of  a  bountiful 
reward,  he  consented  to  try.  In  the  morning,  I  was 
placed  on  my  mule,  and  borne  six  miles  to  the  place  of 
embarkation.  The  chief  at  one  end.  his  son  at  the  other, 
and  myself  sitting  upright  in  the  centre  of  the  boat,  we 
lloated  swiftly  along  the  current.  The  hoary-headed  chief, 
with  wonderful  skill,  descended  the  ra[)ids.  Often  was  he 
in  the  foaming  stream,  holding  on  to  the  bow  to  saAc  the 
boat  from  pitching  or  sinking  into  tlie  angry  flood.  The 
voyage  was  made  in  a  day  and  a  hall',  and  there  was  much, 
in  that  time,  to  cheer  my  spirits,  and  gi^e  me  strength. 
The  heavens  were  serene,  the  air  salubrious,  and  the 
country  on  both  sides  was  charming.  At  the  landing,  the 
faithful  Indian  received  of  my  pro[)erty,  a  fine  horse,  sad- 
dle and  bridle,  a  salmon  knife  and  a  scarlet  velvi^t  sash, 
and  was  satisfied.  Rondeau,  whom  the  Captain  liad  ap- 
pointed to  be  my  attendant  and  guide,  was  ready  at  the 


12 


bank  to  conduct  me,  a  few  miles  distant,  to  the  camp  of 
my  new  party.  I  mounted  with  a  httle  hel[),  and  rode  off, 
feeling  like  a  new  man. 

My  journeying  in  that  wilderness,  was  full  of  interest- 
ing incidents,  and  things  tm-rible.  That  nn  ad\ersaries 
in  Oregon  conspired  against  my  life,  is  to  me  clearly  evi- 
dent ;  and  I  have  a  reasonable  suspicion  that  the  feeble 
health  which  I  have  continued  to  suffer,  the  last  eighteen 
years,  is  the  effect  of  poison  administered  about  the 
time  of  my  departure  from  that  land. 

The  manner  they  treated  m(^  was  worse  than  brutal. 
It  was  their  capiditif  after  Quadra's  Island  which  led  them 
on.  It  was  this  which  gave  great  energy  to  their  motives ; 
and  made  them  fierce  and  resolute  in  abuse  and  outrage 
upon  me.  The  result  of  hardships  and  their  cruelties, 
is  a  nervous  a^'ectkm  in  the  head,  and  physical  debilities. 
Though  the  body  is  made  feeble,  and  the  head  eon/used,  yet 
the  heart  is  pure,  and  the  hands  clean,  and  the  spirit  within 
remains  inflexible  and  invincible  on  the  side  of  truth. 
Finally,  a  merciful  Providence  int(^rposed  for  me.  The 
Mighty  God,  who  will  blast  the  hopes  of  my  enemies  and 
"  bring  their  lofty  looks  to  the  dust,"  saved  me. 

"  Let  not  man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  nor  the  mighty  man 
in  his  migh*,  nor  the  rich  man  in  his  riches,  but  let  him 
that  glorieth,  glory  in  tiiis,  that  he  understandeth  and 
knoweth  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord  which  cx(ucise  loving- 
kuidness,  judgment  and  righteousness  in  the  earth ;  for 
in  these  things  I  delight,  saith  the  Lord." 


13 


CHAPTER  11  r. 


INSULTS    AND    ABUSKS A    SYSTEM    OF  UNKIND  DEALING  IT:cOM»10N 

AMONG    MEN. 

The  ill  success  attending  my  aj)pliciition,  bof'oic  Con- 
ercss,  the  lust  thivtetni  years,  for  relief,  is  chieliv  attributu- 
ble  to  influences  working  on  both  sides  of  the  continent, 
to  prevent  a  just  consif'  raticm  of  me  itorious  services  in 
behalf  of  my  country,  and  mankind  ;  and  otherwise,  to 
injure  me. 

I  have  no  enemies,  it  is  presumed,  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress. The  illustrious  ])erson3,  there,  have  been  deceived 
in  like  manner  with  multitudes  of  other  just  persons,  else- 
where. 

It  grieves  me  to  see  how  prejudiced  have;  become  tlie 
minds  of  the  most  candid  of  my  acquaintance.  Although 
the  very  secrets  of  my  conduct  have  been  before  the  eyes  of 
the  public ;  and,  I  have  been  uniformly  actuated  by  motives 
of  patriotism  and  philanthropy ;  and,  in  all  my  career,  have 
been  devoted  to  the  interests  of  man  ;  yet,  they  scom  to 
see  nothing  to  entitle  me  to  their  esteem,  or  to  the  com- 
mon sympathies  of  their  nature.  Tlierefore,  am  I  mis- 
judged. 

Soon  after  my  achievements  in  Oregon,  and  return  home, 
the  friends  and  hirelings  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
began  again  to  trouble  mt;.  Doubtless,  they  were  instruct- 
ed so  to  do ;  and  to  pursue  a  more  merciless  policy  to- 
ward me.  Previous  to  that  time,  as  far  back  as  the  public 
announcement  of  my  purpose  to  settle  Oregon,  those  men 
began  to  fcix...v  me  about,  and  to  abuse  me  at  I'very  turn. 
Their  object,  then,  was  more  to  break  up  the  enterprise, 
than  to  break  down  its  author ;  but,  after  the  infant  was 
born,  seeing  it  fair,  and  fast  growing  to  manhood;  and 
nothing  could  prevent  it,  tliey  turned  furiously  upon  its 
sire ;  and  sought,  in  (>very  way  their  e>  il  hearts  could  de- 
mise, to  destroy,  literally,  to  destroy  him. 


vrr- 


14 


Tlic  company's  cupidity  ivuchiiig  ul'ti'i-  the  lands  bdoii^;- 
\\v^  to  American  citizens,  on  (iuadvus  Island,  is  the  oii<rin 
of  the  rencui'd  hostilitios.     llcvo  is  idontifiod  the  primnnt 
Mohi/e  of  tlio  niu'lties  Avhich,  for  the  hist  eiylitocu  years, 
have  been   jjractised  upon  me.     "  But  what  has  that  cu- 
pidity," in(|uires  a  friend,  '' to  do  with  you?     l[o\v  and 
by  whom  are  you  cruelly  treated!"      I  will,  here, explain. 
In  Oreufon,  at  tlie  time  of  m>  arrival  at  Vancou>er,  I  was 
sutferinp:  bodily  debility,  for  Avhich  th(^  best  availal)l(>  rem- 
edy would  liave  b(  en  nourisiiing  food,  and  moderate  rud 
Iuil)itual  exercise   in  the  0})en  air.     Nevertheless,  I  was 
thrust  into  the  Company's  hospital.    1  consented,  though 
unwillingly,  and  was   ke[)t  there  while  a   sufficient  op- 
jjortunity  was   alforded  to  overhaul  my  baggage,  and  to 
examine  its  contents.     In  a  trunk  made  of  a  wild  bull's 
hide,  were  deeds,  charts,  historical  accounts,  and  other  pa- 
pers, showing  myself  to  be  in  ])ossession  of  the  evidences 
(if  a  fjood  title  in   the  Americans   tn  the  fairest  portions  of 
the  island  j list  tunned  ;  and  also,  showing  myself  to  be  the 
attorney/  and  advocate  of  the  claimants.     Aft(>r  the  discov- 
eries in  the  baggage,  measures  were  inunediately  taken  by 
the  chief  factor  of  the  compain,  to  prevent  intercourse 
and  concert  of  action  between  me  and  mv  settlers ;  believ- 
ing,  as  undoubtedly  he  did,  that  to  put  Kelley  o^it  of  the 
nuni  would  render  it  less  difHcult  to  break  up  the  settle- 
ment, and  to  retard  emigration ;  and  to  per]x?tuate  th(^ 
Com})any's  hold  upon  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Ameri- 
cans.    AVherefore,  1  was  represented  as  an  impostor,  and 
as  slandering  the  settlers,  w  lio,  becoming  incensed  against 
me,  threat(>ned,  by  letter  and  otherwise,  to  take  m)  life. 
The  orders,  then,  were  —  d(>stroy  him,  and  destroy  the 
nucleus  of  the  settlement.    Martvi'dom  seemed  inevitable. 
The  orders,  afterwards,  in  this  coimtry,  were  —  treat  him, 
at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,*  with  insult  and  abuse;  fol- 

*  I  am  greatly  injurod  in  cliaractcr  and  property,  particidarly  in  Bos- 
ton and  I'almer.  Tlic  latter  is  the  town  of  my  i)resent  residence.  Sec 
pamphlet  attached  to  tiiis  book,  entitled,  '•''  Letters  from  an  alllieted 
Husband  to  an  estranged  Wife."  See  also,  the  Appcndi.\lo  that  pam- 
phlet, wherein  is  given  a  detail  of  the  particulars  of  "  hard  usage."    • 


l;-) 


low  him  hard  up  with  calumny  and  outvago ;  and  break 
him  down,  mind  and  body,  —  utterly  destroy  him. 

Some  of  those  wlio  devise  my  hurt  are  wealthy  mer- 
chants in  our  chief  cities,  participating  in  tlie  profits  and 
loss  of  the  business  of  the  Company.  Others  are  such 
unprincipled  men  as  favors  or  portions  of  the  Company's 
secret  fund*  (.*5{8()(),()00)  can  easily  induce  to  act  against 
m(\  '"^ 

These,  all  have  concerted  together,  not  only  to  destroy 
public  confidence  in  my  statements,  and  to  conceal  the  facts 
supporting  the  rights  of  their  countrymen  on  Quadra's 


*  I  was  toltl,  in  18H4,  hy  tlio-<e  who  knew  tlio  i'aots,  tliat  tlio  i>hjecfs 
of  this  fund 'vero  to  turn  iVoni  the  coast,  American  vessels;  and  to  keep 
oir  (-oinpetition  in  th<^  Indian  trade  ;  and  to  prevent  settlements  heinir 
made  in  the  "  Hudson  Bay  Company's  Ti'rritories  ;  "'  and,  otherwise, 
chmdestinely  to  l)e  used  in  promoting  tlie  interests  of  tlic  ('oni[iany. 

Authors  of  hooks  eoncernin|j  jilfairs  in  ()rey;on,  have  mentioned  tiie 
same  fact.  It  is  stated  in  the  "  Te-n  Years  in  Oregon,"  p.  78,  hy  l>an- 
iel  Lee,  tlial  "  Tlie  Hudson  l?ay  Com[tany  possess  a  I'und  of  two  million 
Ntcrlitii;,  for  the  ]uirpose  of  competing  with  every  vessel  that  maycomt^ 
U|)on  the  coast  for  trade,"  and  ''  to  control  the  destinies  of  Oregon." 
It  is,  also,  stated  in  some  puhlicjititHi  hy  J.  K.  Townsend,  as  follows: — 
•' Travellers,  naturalists,  and  all  who  are  not  traders,  are  kindly  and 
most  hospitahly  treated  ;  hut,  the  moment  the  visitor  is  known  to  trade 
a  heaver-skin  from  an  Indian,  that  moment  he  is  ejected  from  the  com- 
nnujity,  and  all  comnuuiiciition  hetween  him  and  the  oflicers  of  th(! 
Company  ceases.  When  Captain  Wycth,  with  his  party,  arrived  at 
Walla- VValla  fort,  on  his  passage  down  the  Columl)ia,  he  was  required 
by  the  superintendent  to /;ro??<j.sv' that  during  his  jonrney  from  thence  to 
Vancouver  —  three  hundred  miles  —  he  irottid  not  hiiy  <i  lii:anr-s/:in  ; 
the  functionary  assuring  him  that  unless  he  consented  so  to  hind  him- 
self, he  would  send  a  party  ahead  of  him,  which  would  he  instructed  to 
purc!ias(>  every  heaver-skin  from  the  Indians  on  the  route  at  a  price 
which  h(!  (Wyeth)  coultl  not  aiford  to  pay.  It  is  a  fact,  notorious  in 
that  country,  that  the  hononihh^  Company  lias  a  sum  of  money,  aiiioitnl- 
in^  to  screral  hundrrd  thousand  /lonnds  sivr/ing,  laid  asidt;  nt  Vancou- 
ver, for  the  sole  |»urpose  of  op|)osing  all  who  may  come  to  inlrrjeri; 
with  its  monopoly,  by  purcluising  at  exorbitant  prices  all  the  furs  in 
possession  of  the  Indians,  and  thus  forcing  the  settler  to  come  to 
terms,  or  drivint^  him  from  thr  rounlri/.  If  it  he  an  individual  who  is 
thus  starved  into  submission,  he  then  usually  clears  a  piece  of  land  on 
the  VVallammet  River,  takes  an  Indian  wife,  and  purchases  furs  of  the 
natives,  which,  hy  previous  contract,  he  is  hound  to  sell  to  the  Com- 
pany, at  an  advance  which  is  fixed  hy  th(>  Covernor." 


I 


k; 


Island,  but  to  (loccivc  oiu-  national  legislators  both  con- 
cerning thos(>  rights  and  my  individual  claims  on  tlio 
country.  A\'itli  htNirts  as  hard  and  as  cold  as  the  ice  of 
(ircenland,  they  liave  long  continued  to  treat  mc  more  un- 
civilly than  1  treat  my  dog,  and  more  unfeelingly  than  I 
treat  the  viper  that  bites  nie.  Tliey  have  brought  upon 
me  the  greatest  of  evils ;  and,  they  are  the  bloody  butch- 
ers of  my  earthly  enjoyments. 

Taking  advantage  of  my  friendless  condition,  and  the 
merciful  forbtnuance  manifested  towards  them  ;  and  also, 
of  the  direful  misfortunes  which  they  tln'mselves  hnve 
brouglit  up<in  me ;  tliey  htive  succeeded  to  impress  tlu' 
minds  of  multitudes  witii  th(^  belief,  that  1  am,  just  what 
I  am  not ;  and  to  l)e  (U^si-rving  of  no  better  treatment 
than  what  T  am  receiving  from  them.  Now  their  mock- 
eries and  abuse  have  become  intolerable.  I  never  speak 
in  malice,  nor  am  1  ever  provoked  to  revenge,  and  can 
brook  insults  and  impositions  as  long  as  any  man  ;  but, 
truly,  forbearance  has  c(>ase(l  to  be  a  virtue ;  and  it  be- 
hooves mo,  sc\(n*ely  to  rebidve  them,  and  publicly  to  de- 
monstrate the  reality  of  the  monstrous  evils  which  they 
have  done  and  are  doing  me.  There  are  a  few,  (I  know 
them  and  their  folly,)  wliose  popularity  and  positions 
among  their  fellow-men  gi\e  tliem  greater  influence  than 
ordinarily  belongs  to  slandeiers,  the  connnon  devils* 
lireathing  their  pestilential  bn^ath  upon  the  conmiunities 
about  me.  A  word  or  nod  from  them  is  sufficient  to  blast 
the  character  of  any  powerless  and  humble  individual 
like  myself,  however  pure  and  exemplary  it  may  be. 
These,  partly  for  their  friends'  sake,  I  shall  spare  awhile 
longer ;  ho])ing  they  will  consider  on  their  ways,  turn 
about,  and  deal  justly  and  mfU'cifuUy  with  me. 


*  ./(rt-ji./oi,-,  sonifMinics  translatnd  slandornrs.     Snn  1  Tim.  ("hnp.  iii. 
v«r.  ll! 


i 


17 


CHAPTER  IV. 


I 


gray's  discoveuy  of  Tun  onF.noN  ktvkr. 

I  wrix  now  ])roroed  to  sliow  by  whom,  nnd  in  what 
ways, the  ciuisc  of  Orcfjon  and  of  Imnianity  was  oppugned; 
j)ul)lic  confidence  in  my  eharaeter  and  writinjjjs  destroyed  ; 
myself  abused  and  made  tlie  ^■ictim  of  books  ;  my  coun- 
try decei\e(l  and  made  tlie  victim  of  intnj4:ue;  and  how 
the  pubHc  concession  of  (Quadra's  Iskuid,*  and  other 
northern  parts  of  Oregon  to  Great  Britain  were  brought 
al)out.     I  do  it  in  vindication  of  myself. 

Tiie  Oregon  (piestion  was  long  ago  settled,  and  I  have 
no  desire  it  should  be  discussed  anew,  or  tlie  public  mind 
be  agitated  so  much  as  by  the  mention  of  it ;  but  the 
false-hearted  citizeus  interfering  to  deceive  the  people, 
and  to  turn  aside  from  me  public  justice,  remain  to  be  re- 
proved, and  to  be  })osted,  as  deserving  objects  of  the  scorn 
and  indignation  of  their  countrymen. 

They  were  remarkably  cunning,  and  strangely  success- 
ful, in  making  the  public  believe,  that  "  our  claim"  to  Ore- 
gon, only  extended  to  the  outlines  of  the  Columbia  \  alley  ; 
and   rested,   only,  on    "four  grounds."     They  carefully 

*  Tliis  island  in  1791  and  "92,  was  convoyed  by  the  Indian  chiefs  to 
Kendrick,  and  throiiirli  Quadra  to  tlie  king  of  Spsjin.  For  tliis  reason 
it  was  calUnl  on  Gray  Jind  Kendrick's  charts,  and  by  early  American 
navi^iators,  Kendrick  and  Quadra's  Inland.  It  was  first  discover(>d  by 
tlie  Spaniards,  and  bt-lore  Vancouver  was  seen  on  the  Pacific  side  of 
America,  every  place  on  or  about  that  island  was  examined  and  named 
by  them,  ai;(l,  also,  most  of  the;  places  by  Kendrick  and  CJray. 

It  appears  to  me,  that  (Ireenhow,  on  the  Hilst  page  of  his  book, 
"  On  the  North- West  Coast,"  docs  the  memory  of  Quadra  injustice. 
It  is  very  doubttul  wliether  he  can  furnish  better  authority  than  his  own 
for  some  of  his  statements  in  that  book.  The  friends  of  the  Hudson's 
Ray  Comjiany,  either  to  honor  Hritish  subjec's,  or  to  give  plausibility  to 
the  pretences  made  by  Great  Britain  to  rights  in  Oregon,  changed  the 
names  of  all  important  places  on  that  coast,  substituting  British  instead 
of  Spanish  and  American. 


IS 

kopt  out  of  sifjlit  the  best  of  all  eoncoivable  grounds, 
tlu)«;(^  showiiiL;-  an  uiKpUNtionable  title  to  tlie  rouiitvy  ex- 
tendiii''  Car  north  of  that  vallcv,  a  stioniic'r  claim  to  tlio 
teriitoiv  north  of  the  forty-ninth  parallel,  or  the  line  su^- 
gest(>(l  by  \\\\\.  Stiir^is,  VjHi\.,  of  Doston,  for  the  northern 
boundary*  of  Oregon,  than  to  any  part  soutli  of  that 
])arallel.  It  was  contended  tliat  nothing  there  had  been 
done,  on  the  ])art  of  the  United  States,  to  ac(juiro  a  title. 
^Mention  was  scarcely  ever  made  of  acts  done  by  Ameri- 
cans and  Spaniards  north  of  the  Cohunbia  river. 

Too  much  im[)ortance  was  attached  to  C-ai)t.  llobert 
Gray's  discovcn-y  of  the  Oregonf  in  179*2,  and  to  John 
J.  Astor's  trading  establishment  at  the  moutii  of  that 
river  in  ISll  ;  while  the  truly  meritorious  acts  of  Gray, 
of  Kendrick,  and  of  the  Spaniards  were  considered  unim- 
])orlant,  and  were  k(>pt  back,  as  though  they  did  not 
stnnigthen  the  American  claim,  and  were  not  the  very 
best  evidences  of  our  title. 

It  was  inconsistent  to  ascribe  to  Capt.  Gray  the  discov- 
ery of  that  riv(n- ;  for  it  had  been  previously  discovered, 
and  often  entered.  Capt.  John  Mcares,  a  British  subject 
on  that  coast  in  1788,  admits  this.  He  notes  in  his  joiu- 
nal,  —  "  W(?  were  i)leascd  with  the  expectation  of  its  being 
Cape  San  Hoc  of  tlie  Spaniards,  near  which  they  are  said 
to  have  found  a  '■'■  iiood  port.''  lie  again  notes,  "We  can 
now  witli  safety  assert,  that  no  such  river  as  that  of  San 
Hoc  exists,  as  laid  down  in  the  Spanish  charts.'' 

*  Tliis  lino  is  crooked,  and  bonds  round  the  southern  extremity  of 
Qutidni's  Island.  It  was  sug!j;csted  by  one  of  tlie  strongest  advocates 
of  the  Hudson  Hay  Coinpjiny. 

f  Orciion,  the  Indian  name  of  this  river,  was  traced  by  me  to  a  large 
river  called  Orjnn,  in  t'hinese  Tartary,  whose  latitude  corresponds  with 
that  of  Or:  unn^  in  America.  The  word  KilUimncks,  the  name  of  a  tribe, 
:i  little  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Oregon,  was,  also,  traced  to  a  people 
called  Kilmnc/is,  who  anciently  lived  near  the  mouth  of  the  Orjon  in 
Asia.  It  is  evident  the  Oregon  Kilmucks  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  North  America,  and  brought  with  them  many  of  the  proper  names 
used  by  our  Indians  The  word  Mexico  (Mecaco)  is  identified  with 
the  name  of  the  ancient  capital  of  Japan.  Identifications  of  both  proper 
and  common  names  are  numerous. 


\^' 


' 


1!) 


Capt.  Gray,  as  has  been  said  of  him  by  others,  was  an 
cap;lo-(>yed  iiavi<;at<)r,  and  unsurpassed  by  any  of  his  con- 
temporaries. Jle  entered  the  river  in  \1\)'2,  and  tliere  arc 
circumstances  whicli  incline  me  to  believe,  that  Maurelle's 
chart  turned  him  thither.  However,  he  did  his  country 
a  ^ood  service.  The  jjublicity  f:;iven  to  the  event,  excited 
the  attention  of  our  fiovermnent,  awakened  a  spirit  of  en- 
terprise am()n<i;  the  merchants,  and  produced  great  and 
beneficial  results. 

Tiie  fi'-'t  is  well  established  of  tbere  having  been  a 
'■'•  (jooil  port^'  hi  its  estuary,  b(>longing  to  the  Spaniards, 
and  of  their  freciuent  \  isits  to  the  same. 

The  yiceroyalty  of  Mexico,  in  1775,  fitted  out  from 
San  nias  an  expedition  consisting  of  two  vessels  ;  Bruno 
lleceta  being  commander  of  one,  and  Antonio  Manrelle, 
pilot,  of  the  other,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the 
coast ;  and,  it  is  believed,  to  determine  on  some  good  po- 
sition for  the  establishment  of  a  colony.  On  the  IGtli  of 
August,  (St.  Roc's  day,)  the  Spaniards  entered  the  Ore- 
gon, calling  it  St.  Hoc  ;  and  Maurelle  laid  it  down  on  his 
chart  —  the  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles ;  probably, 
as  mucli  as  had  been  examined.  From  that  to  the  year 
'8*2,  Spanish  vessels  often  ploughed  through  the  foaming 
surf  to  the  "  good  port,"  but  after  the  last  mentioned  year, 
on  account  of  the  difficulties  of  ingress,  and  of  the  fre- 
qu(>nt  disasters  occurring  there,  turned  from  it. 

Mr.  E.  II.  Butler,  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  in  1835,  in- 
formed me  of  several  Spanish  shipwrecks  at  the  mouth  of 
that  river.  He  went  there  in  1808,  in  the  ship  Mercury, 
Ca[)t.  G.  W.  Ayres,  and  lived  with  the  Cheenook  tribe 
nearly  two  years.  He  was  convinced,  that  in  the  year 
1782,  a  Spanish  v(>ssel  from  Manilla,  with  a  cargo  of 
bees-wax,  dollars,  &c.,  was  wrecked  at  the  entrance  of  the 
river.  He,  himself,  dug  from  the  beach  a  quantity  of  both 
the  wax  and  dollars.  The  age  of  the  Indian  with  "  sandy 
hair  and  light  complexion,"  of  whom  Lewis  and  Clarke 
made  mention,  enabled  him  to  determine  upon  the  exact 
time  of  the  disaster.  He  learnt  of  two  other  Spanish  ship- 
wrecks which  had  occurred  two  or  three  years  previous. 


1 


20 


\i\ 


Other  facts  indicate  that  the  first  iiihahitants  of  tlio 
Nortii  V/cst  Coast  came  from  Asia,  the  coast  of  Japan, 
and  the  Ishnuls  in  the  Chinese  Sea.  The  jiotfrn/  of  tlie 
^lexiean  and  Calii'ornian  Indians  Avas  formerly  like  that 
of  the  K<j:yi)tians,  Arahians,  «Js;e.  Their  h-athern  hottles 
or  hai^s  resend)led  those  nsed  in  Arahia,  and  atnon«; 
several  of  the  nations  of  Asia.  The  Saccpnis  tribe  of 
Calii'oniia  nncpu'stionably  dese(nide(l  from  the  Sacjues, 
anciently  of  Turkey.  'I'hey  Nyere  a  reiiLMous  sect,  and 
travelled  into  Araiiia  and  the  Indies,  and  even  into  Tar- 
tary,  carrying;  water  in  leathern  ba<>s.  AN'lun  in  J^ower 
California,  I  saw  females  spinnini,''  thread  by  means  of  a 
top,  after  the  ancient  manner  of  the  Chinese.  But  this 
is  not  the  |)lace  for  a  history  of  the  American  abori- 
gines. I  have  written  somewhat  u])on  this  sid)ject,  and 
much  concerninjjr  the  history  of  Oregon  ;  but  all  I  have 
published  has  attracted  no  public  attention.  I  will  now 
in  further  remarks,  relative  to  the  river  Oregon,  suggest 
one  of  the  reasons  of  my  ill  success. 

A  writer  of  some  distinction  in  the  public  journals, 
and  an  author  of  a  book  of  notoriety,  both  ])articular 
friends  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  have  gi^en  to 
the  public  their  opinions  concerning  the  word  Oregon  ; 
stating  immediately  after  what  I  had  written,  which  had 
come  to  their  notice,  that  it  must  be  derived  from  Origano, 
the  S[)anish  word  for  sweet  nn  rjoram,  which  they  igno- 
rantly  supposed  grew  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia ;  and, 
t'lc  interesting  fact  concerning  the  Killamucks,  was  wholly 
l)asscd  unnoticed  by  them  ;  as  was,  also,  many  other  items 
of  history  from  my  Indian  researches.  It  was  an  attempt 
to  impose  upon  the  public  the  belief  that  information 
coming  from  me,  was  not  reliable ;  and  was  intended  to 
weaken  the  force  of  my  advocacy  of  the  clainj.  of  pur 
citizens  to  Quadra's  Island.  This  disposition  with  certain 
influential  men  to  do  me  wrong,  is  one  of  the  things  that 
drives  me  to  undertake  the  i)resent  defence  of  mv  char- 
acter. 


1 


I* 


i 


21 


CIIAITFJI   V. 


ASTOU  S    TllAI)IN(i    ESTAIIUSIIMENT    IN    OKLCiON. 


1 


Tin;  liiic  John  J.  Astnr.  of  Now  York,  a  man  of  no 
onlinnry  sa^'acity  in  bnsincss  transactions,  or>;aniy.(»(l  the 
Pacific  I'Hr  ('()mj)any,  in  ISIO,  for  the  i)ur[)os(' of  carry- 
m<^  on  the  Fnr  trade  in  Orciion.  Witli  tliis  solo  ohji  't 
in  view,  he  estahlisiied  a  trading  post  on  the  sonth  side 
of  the  estnary  of  tlie  Colnnd)ia,  which  jjost,  to  ma<^nify 
the  ini])()rtance  of  his  doin<^s  in  that  territory,  has  since 
been  called  the  "  Town  of  Astoria."  *  No  toini  bearinfj^ 
this  name  over  existed  in  Oregon,  save  in  romance,  until 
after  the  connnencement  of  my  settlements ;  unless  two 
or  three  toq  huts,  -with  a  stockatU^  fence  about  them,  con- 
stitute a  town.  I  am  fre(^  to  say,  having  had  opijortuni- 
ties  to  know  about  it,  that  be  did  not  so  much  as  con- 
tem[)late  a  pernument  settlcinent  or  occupancy  of  the 
country.  Nothing  ever  indicated  his  having  entertained, 
for  a  moijcnt,  a  thought  of  that  kind.  It  is  true,  in 
18'2'2,  he  proposed  to  invest  ,$f2()(),00()  hi  the  building  of  a 
town  at  the  mouth  of  the  (.'olumbia,  provided  the  gov- 
ernment of  the   I'nited   States  would  establish  for  his 


*  The  innjinifiponce  of  Astoria,  at  any  period  of  its  prosperity,  was 
not  iiiilii<e  that  of  un  ei\\ni\  number  of  lo<;  cabins  wiiicli  settlers  in  a 
now  country  build  fo'*  tlicir  temporary  convenience.  Tlie  place,  in 
the  latter  part  of  INIS,  was  sold  to  the  British  North  West  Com- 
pany, wlien  it  took  tlie  name  of  Fort  (Jeorgc.  In  a  valuation  of  th(! 
))roperty,  at  that  time,  all  the  buildings  were  estimated  at  £'20{).  This 
Company  soon  af'ler  united  with  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who  con- 
tinued to  occupy  till  1821,  when  the  place  was  vacated,  and  the  Indians 
burnt  the  buildings,  s(j  that  no  vestige  of  Astoria  or  Fort  Cieorge  was 
left.  Two  buildings,  soon  after,  were  put  up  for  the  accommodation 
of  a  trader,  stationeil  there  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  furs,  for 
which  the  Indians  received  in  exchange,  occasionally,  a  blanket  ;  but 
generally,  articles  (or  hunting,  ami  ardent  .sj)iril.  The  latter  was 
plentifully  supplied  by  the  trader  from  the  distillery  at  Vancouver.  In 
1834,  these  two  buildings  were  standing,  and  this  horrid  traffic  was 
carried  on. 


00 


l!i 


I 


h 


protection  a  military  post  at  that  place.  The  proposition, 
thouf]^h  reasonabks  Avas  not  accepted ;  and  nothing  fur- 
ther was  said  or  done  on  his  »art.  It  is  not  my  meaning 
that  he  was  a  Avliit  worse  than  the  very  best  of  the  lead- 
ing men  in  the  associations  of  fur  dealers  ;  yet  I  ai)pre- 
liend,  his  object  was  not  materially  unlilve  that  of  all 
others  whom  cupidity  has  led  to  that  country  to  trap 
and  hunt,  and  to  trade  with  the  Indians ;  and  Avho,  to 
get  gain,  have  overreached  that  benighted  ])eople  in  every  • 
instance  of  traffic  witli  them  ;  and  have  robbed  them  of 
the  i)roductions  of  their  hnnting  grounds,  and  iishing 
l)rivileges — a  predatory  object,  no  better  than  that  of 
marauders. 

Most  liistorical  writers,  and  lecturers  on  that  country, 
have  given  to  this  enteri)rising  and  adroit  fur  dealer, 
credit  which  he  never  claimed  ;  have  attributed  to  his 
conduct  motives  which  never  moved  him ;  and  laurelled 
him  without  his  consent,  at  the  expense  of  another. 
They  have  made  prevalent  false  notions  as  to  the  charac- 
ter of  his  establishment ;  and  have  artfully  drawn  public 
attention  that  way,  hoping  to  (Jivert  the  inquiring  mind 
from  the  best  /p-oiinds  of  the  American  claim  to  Oregon  ; 
and  from  the  first  cause  of  the  settlements  of  that  coun- 
try. Though  his  object  was,  exclusively,  that  of  avarice, 
yet  meeds  of  praise  have  been  awarded  him,  as  though 
he  had  done  some;  mighty  thing,  greatly  benefitting  his 
adopted  nation. 

There  was  nothing  visible  in  Astor  s  purpose,  indi- 
cating colonization.  His  men  were  unprovided  with 
agricultural  stores  or  farming  implements  ;  and  it  is  evi- 
dent that  they  were  without  skill  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  ground,  and  were  not  sent  to  Oregon  on  business  of 
that  kind.  While  there,  they  made  experiments  at  hor- 
ticulture —  none  at  farming. 

In  1828,  when  engaged  in  efforts  to  enlist  emigrants 
for  Oregon,  I  noticed  in  the  leading  newspapers  an  article 
pur])orting  to  be  an  extract  from  a  journal  kept  at 
Astoria.  It  stated,  in  substance,  tliat  a  small  patch  of 
ground  was  cultivated,  to  supply  the  post  with  garden 


'  j» 


my. 


23 


vegetables  ;  that  the  ground  was  sterile,  and  incapable  of 
producing  (^nough  of  any  thing  to  renuuicrate  for  the  seed 
put  into  it  ;  and  that  the  experiments  were  failures. 
The  same  article  suggested  the  way  of  management. 
Turnips  were  sowed  and  potatoes  planted,  among  stumi)s 
and  under  the  shade  of  the  tall  trees  Avhich  environed 
their  plantation.  "  Tlie  mice,  the  first  year,  took  one 
part  of  the  yield ;  the  other  part  was  reserved  for  another 
trial."     "  The  second  year  the  seed  entirely  ran  out." 

That  article  sliows,  how  early  the  lying  s[)irit  of  the 
friends  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  was  going  about  to 
deceive  the  public,  and  to  tlnvart  the  movements  nf  my 
enterprise.  I  have  seen  the  spot  of  ground,  and  know  it 
to  be  highly  fertile,  and  A/ell  adapted  to  tlie  culture  of 
all  the  useful  vegetables  raised  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States  north  of  the  38tli  parallel. 

There  was  nothing  particularly  meritorious  in  Astor  s 
trading  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia.  The  character  of 
any  trade,  gain  being  the  only  object,  is  the  same,  whether 
pursued  on  land  or  water.  To  trade  on  the  hank  of  a 
river,  is  much  the  same  as  to  trade  on  the  deck  of  a 
vessel.  I  have,  somewhere,  seen  the  principle  illustrated 
by  a  comparison  between  two  oyster  establishments  — 
one  was  in  the  heart  of  a  city  ;  the  other,  in  a  liulk 
moored  alongside  of  a  whr"f.  The  query  was,  wliich  of 
the  twain,  from  the  circumstance  of  situation,  Avas  the 
most  praiseworthy  establisliment. 

Astor  bought  no  teiritory,  made  no  treaty,  and  obtained 
no  consent  of  the  Indians  to  occupy.  His  men  were  un- 
kind and  unmerciful  towards  that  despised  and  oj)presscd 
race.  Finallv,  his  arts  in  Ore<>{)U  were  not  of  a  charac- 
tor  to  give  strength  to  the  American  claim  to  the  territory. 
Thev  were  all  morallv  wionij ;  in  violation  of  the  laws 
of  God  —  contrary  to  the  j)reoepts  of  that  religion  given 
to  the  world  by  Jesus  Christ,  re(juiring  perfect  obedience 
to  the  divine  commands  —  requiring  all  men,  of  what- 
ever tongue,  or  tribe,  or  nation  they  may  be,  to  live  in 
brotherly  kindness  with  each  other  —  each,  to  commu- 
nicate good,  and  not  evil,  to   his  neighbor  ;    and,  the 


w 


« 


n 


•■  -n 


! 


24 


•  f 


stronger,  whether  an  individual  person  or  a  nation,  to 
protect  the  weaker ;  the  civilized  to  enlighten  the  un- 
civilized —  imparting  to  all,  as  circumstances  favor,  that 
knowledge  of  the  ways  of  God,  which,  more  than  all 
other  knowledge,  dignifies,  adorns,  and  sweetens  life. 

The  transactions  of  the  fur  dealers,  in  Oregon,  up  to 
the  time  of  the  first  settlement  in  the  Wallamet  Vallev, 
uniformly  tended  to  demoralize,  degrade,  and  make  mis- 
erable the  Indians,  and  to  the  extinguishment  of  that 
race.  They  were  hostile  to  the  common  interests  of  man- 
kind. The  trappers  and  hunters  beyond  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  with  a  few  exce[)tions,  have  evinced  a  great 
want  of  that  elevation  of  character,  which,  in  part,  dis- 
tinguishes the  human  from  the  brute  species ;  and  they 
htive  deserved  to  be  driven  from  the  Oregon  Territory 
with  the  same  speed  with  which  they  have  driven  nine- 
tenths  of  its  unoffending  population  from  the  world.  Such 
brutish  men  are  not  identified  with  the  heaven-adopted 
instrumentalities  by  wliich  the  "  desert  shall  rejoice,  and 
blossom  as  the  rose  ;  "  and  "  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord." 

Tlieir  history  is  full  of  unfair  dealings,  and  unprovoked 
murders.  I  cannot  be  silent,  when  I  call  to  mind  the 
wrongs  and  outrages  practised  by  them,  upon  their  fellow- 
men.  Should  my  pen  ever  gain  sufficient  ability  for  the 
task,  histc^ry  shall  not  belie  the  oppressed  people  driven 
out  from  that  goodly  land. 


i 


i 


25 


CHArXER  VI. 


CnOlTNDS  OF  THE  AMERICAN    CLAIM   TO    OREGON    OVERLOOKED. 


^'> 


Sincerely  do  T  regret  to  recount  events  in  the  history 
of  Oregon,  which  once  so  mucli  disturbed  the  pubHc 
mind,  but  arc  now  put  away,  to  be  thonglit  of  and  to 
trouble  no  more.  I  repeat  it — the  defence  of  my  charac- 
ter and  rights,  ;nid  also,  the  vindication  of  the  rights  of 
countiTmen  claiming  protection  of  the  go\err'nent  in 
regaining  their  property  on  Quadra  s  Island,  require  me 
to  do  it. 

The  re-discovery  of  the  Oregon,  and  Aster's  trading 
establishment  at  that  river,  have  been  sufficiently  con- 
sidered ;  and  now,  as  to  the  acts  of  the  Spaniards  in  that 
quarter. 

The  Spaniards,  before  any  other  civilized  people,  dis- 
covered and  examined  every  part  of  the  northwest  coast  ; 
and  commenced  the  colonization  of  Quadra's  Island. 
Francisco  Guall(>,  in  1584,  I>orenzo  Ferrez  de  Maldonado, 
in  1588,  made  discoveries.  Juan  de  Fuca,  pilot  of  the 
vessel  in  which  lie  sailed,  entered  the  straits  b(^aring  his 
name.  Sebastian  Viziaino,  in  1(502,  Admiral  Fonte,  in 
KUO,  made  discoveries  and  examinations  as  far  north  as 
the  ()()th  parallel,  entering  rivers,  straits,  and  bays  ;  and 
taking  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  their 
sovereign.  In  1774,  Juan  Perez  was  sent  from  San  Bias 
with  two  public  vessels  to  explore  the  whole  coast,  in 
view  of  its  annexation  to  the  Spanish  dominions.  He 
examined  Nootka  Soitnd^  which  he  called  San  liorenzo ; 
and  entered  the  Straits  of  Fuca ;  and  traded  with  the 
nati\  es,  paying  them  in  exchange  for  furs,  as  is  inferrible 
from  a.  'jounts  of  subsequent  English  and  American  vov- 
agers,  clothing,  iron,  articles  of  silver,  brass,  »S:c.  In 
the  following  year,  Ileceta,  from  San  Bias,  made  the  expe- 
dition in  which  was  discovered  the  Oregon  lliver. 

Owing  partly,  perhaps,  to  the  wars  between  Spain  and 
4 


I 


26 

Franco,  and  tlio  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  but  few 
voya<;es  from  lllo  to  17«"^S  were  made  far  up  the  coast; 
and  those  few,  to  pre\ cut  competition  in  trade,  were  care- 
fully concealed  from  other  nations.  'J'here  wore,  however, 
voyages  in  tlioso  years,  particularly  to  the  Oregon  River; 
as  is  evident  from  the  shipwrecks,  spoken  of  by  Ikitlor, 
as  having  occurred  at  the  entrance  of  that  river, —  the 
last,  in  1782.  After  those  teriiblo  disasters,  in  which 
were  lost  vessels  and  crews,  the  Spaniards  may  have  be- 
come discouraged,  and  resolved  never  again  to  risk  prop- 
erty, or  to  ])eril  life,  at  that  seemingly  forbidden  spot  of 
N'^ptune's  dominions. 

In  ITiSS,  learning  that  the  Ilussians  wore  preparing  to 
form  settlements  on  the  coast,  south  of  their  establish- 
ment at  /odiak  near  the  GOth  ])arallel,  the  Viceroy  of 
Mexico  dispatched  Estovan  Jose  ]SIartinez  with  two  pub- 
lic vessels  to  inipuro  into  their  movements,  and  to  prevent 
the  threatened  encroachment  upon  Spanish  rights.  ISIar- 
tinez,  immediately  after  his  return,  Avas  ordered  to  proceed 
with  the  same  vessels  to  Nootka  Sound ;  and,  there,  to 
take  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty,  and  to  commence  occupancy.  lie  sails  amply 
])rovide(l  with  men,  cattle,  agricultural  stores,  &c.  »K:c., 
and  was  accompanied  with  three  ^Missionaries,*  who  were 


*  Those  Franciscan  padres  were  iloiabtless  sincere  men  ;  and  hoped 
to  improve  the  cliaracter  and  condition  of  tlie  Indians  ;  but  I  am  not 
one  to  believe  timt  any  good  was  ever  aecomplislied,  in  behalf  of 
civilization,  by  papal  missionaries.  In  my  apprehension,  they  are  not 
the  best  qiialilied  of  (inspel  heralds  to  lead  in  the  high  and  dignified 
work  of  civilizing  savage  men.  It  would  seem,  their  faith  is  too  weak 
and  too  defective  ;  and  they  are  altogether  too  antichristian  for  that 
holy  calling.  Being  so,  and  standing  in  th(^  relation  they  do  to  Jesus 
Christ,  they  can  understand  but  little  of  that  system  of  morality,  so 
perfect,  and  so  transcendendy  excellent,  given  to  the  world,  by  tlie 
compass!ona"e  Redeemer,  for  the  happiness  and  glory  of  mankind. 

It  was  a  (lark  period  in  the  history  of  S|)ain  and  Mexico,  when  those 
missionaries  acciimpanied  Martinez  to  the  northwest  coast.  They  knew 
nothing,  as  they  ought,  of  the  nature  and  power  of  Christianity,  then 
soon  mightily  to  exert  its  energies  among  heathen  people  —  to  com- 
mence a  more  rapid  march  to  im[)rove  and  beautify  the  moral  world. 

Indians  are  Indians  still,  while  their  teachers  and  c.\amplers  are  in 


*;» 


27 


to  load  in  tho  civilization  of  the  Indians.  IIo  arrives  at 
the  place  of  destination,  on  the  (kli  of  May,  1789,  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  roloni/. 

r  sliall  (lei'er  for  some  other  chapter  the  account  of  the 
settlement,  at  tliat  time  commenced  ;  and  will  close  this, 
l)y  mi\in<4-  some  of  tlw  e\iJenees  of  early  Spanisli  voya<^es. 

British  and  other  navi<jators  furnish  nuich  concerninir 
them.  It  is  said  in  ])rake's  voyage,  ni  1  i379,  that  there 
\vas  taken  from  a  Sj)anisli  shij)  a  set  of  charts,  and  a.  pihtt, 
which  were  of  ^leat  service  in  a  cruise  uj)  the  coast. 
]N[aldonado,  in  loSS,  remarks,  in  reference  to  ])assa*>es 
amonij^  the  islands  between  latitudes  54  and  5()  X.  — 
"  beiuii;  <^iiided  by  a  Ljood  narrative  of  Juan  ^lartine::, 
2)ifot  niaf/or,  a  very  old  man  of  much  experience." 

Juan  de  Fuca  represents  himself  as  luninjif  been  pilot. 
and  not  chief  otHcer  in  the  voy.iji'e  in  which  the  straits  of 
his  name  were  disco\ered  ;  and,  also,  '"■  ptrerionsitj,  a  pilot 
of  three  vessels,  sent  from  Mexico  arm(>d  with  100  men 
to  discover  the  Straits  of  Anian."  I'uca  was  one  of  the 
unfortunate  crew  of  the  shi[)  Santa  Anna,  which  Caven- 
dish, in  1  ")8"I,  burnt,  after  i)lunderin<T  it  of  a  car<>o  worth 
half  a  million  of  dollars.  That  pilot  was  in  the  marine 
ser\  ice  of  Spain  forty  years. 


•^1 


darkness,  nnd  [hmtoivo  not  tlm  tliiiiirs  of  Clirist's  kingdom,  and  arc 
ictioraiit  of  human  rights  —  ohuy  nut  the  precepts  of  the  (rospcl  ;  and 
honor  and  worship  the  cartlily  mother,  more  than  tl>e  lieavenly  Fatlier 
of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Sixtv  years  ago,  tliere  was  a  hetter  excuse  for  tlie  ignorance  of 
Spaniards,  in  hi)th  earthly  and  sjiiritual  things,  than  now.  Then,  tho 
light  of  heav(Mi  did  hut  dimly  shine  ;  and  the  government  of  (Christ, 
and  the  fimilani'Milal  pi'inciples  (tf  civil  and  religions  freedom,  were 
less  understocKJ  and  appreciated.  Then,  knowh'dgr  iiad  made  hut  slow 
advance  in  Spanisli  America,  and  in  the  papal  and  infidel  parts  of  the 
world.  The  light,  now  coming  with  such  hright  radiance  from  heaven 
to  earth,  had  tlien  Sv-arcely  hegan  to  shine  npon  the  moral  desolation, 
continuing  to  spread  with  its  darkest  as|)ect  over  those  nations,  pre- 
tending, more  than  others,  to  civilization  ;  and  lo  a  knowledge  of  the 
Creator,  and  of  temporal  and  I'tfu'ual  things. 

I  shall  indulge  in  further  remarks  relative  to  the  intcux'sling  and 
heart-felt  suhjecl  of  Christianity,  under  the  head  of  liclleclions,  suh- 
pended  to  Chap.  VIII. 


2S 


,  » 


Martinez  was  pilot  in  1774  ;  and  ^Maurcllo  pilot  in 
1775  ;  both  to  hiii'li  latitud(>s.  The  very  fact  of  a  per- 
son's beiniy  pik)t,  supposes  his  liavinjj:  been  on  the  coast 
previous  to  the  tim(^  mentioned  of  acting;  in  tliis  capacity. 
The  three  sliipwrecks,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Cohunbia 
lliver,  Avere  tSpanish  public  ressris,  known  to  be  such 
from  the  identity  of  the  costume  of  the  officers,  and  the 
articles  of  the  cargoes.  ('a[)t.  Dixon,  in  1787,  ucnv  the 
56th  degree  of  latitude,  notes  in  his  journal,  that  '•  An 
old  Indian  i>ave  them  to  understand,  that  a  i^ood  while 
ago,  two  vessels  had  been  at  anchor  at  that  pl.ice ;  and 
tliat  they  carried  a  great  nvmd)er  of  guns.  The  old  uian 
showed  a  white  shirt,  which  was  found  to  be  made  after 
the  Simuish  fashion.  An  Indian  chief  was  noticed  to 
have  on  a  scarlet  cloak,  with  old  fringe  about  the  shoul- 
ders."' Dixon  supposed  '•  this  and  some  other  showy 
articles,  once  belonged  to  some  Spanish  Don.'' 

Ca])t.  Portlock,  associated  with  Dixon,  expresses  his 
disappointment  while  searching  after  the  island  of  St. 
Maria  la  Costa,  laid  down  -on  old  Spanish  rh<n'ts"  then 
before  him,  ('apt.  Cook,  in  1788,  found  the  natives  about 
]Vootka  Sound  well  ac<piainted  with  the  use  of  iron  ;  and 
ascribes  their  great  dexterity  in  works  of  wood,  to  the 
assistance  they  received  from  iron  tools.  He  speaks  of 
iron,  and  ornaments  of  brass — •■  noticed  two  silver  spoons 
hanging  from  the  n(>ck  of  an  Indiiui  chief,"  which  he 
thought  were  from  Mcwint. 

These  are  the  vnijmje.s  and  evidences  of  voyages,  by 
Spaniards,  to  the  shores  of  Oregon.  They  were  all  na- 
tional, made  with  a  view  to  discoveries  and  explorations, 
and  to  preparations  for  colonizing  that  country. 


■i  - 


y 


29 


pilot  in 
■  a  per- 
10  coast 
i»[)acity. 
)liimbia 
)e  such 
nul  the 
icar  the 
^t  '-An 
d  -while 
:-c ;  and 
)ld  iiiau 
le  after 
deed  to 
[>  shoul- 
showy 

sses  his 
I  of  St. 
^•"  then 
es  about 
)u  ;  and 
to  the 
)eaks  of 
•  spoons 
hich  he 

iges,  by 

all  na- 

)rations, 


■S  ' 


nUITISH    VOYACSF.S 


CHAPTER   VII. 


ACTS    OF    CAPTAIN    MEARES    ON   THE    COAST' 


'•NOOTKA   SOUND  DIFFICULTY      PRETENDED   LAND  PURCHASE. 

Capt.  Cook,  early  in  the  year  1778,  touched  at  Xootka ; 
wlu^re,  havino^  traded  with  the  Indians,  and  made  some 
repairs  of  his  vessel,  de[)arted.  Tins  was  th(^  first  voyage 
to  the  coast  of  Oregon,  by  a  ]h'itish  subject  ;  and  in 
this,  there  were  neithcn-  discov(nies  nor  explorations,  south 
of  the  GOth  degree  north  latitude. 

Between  the  years  1787  and  1789,  captains  Duncan, 
Dixon,  Portlock,  ]Mcares,  and  some  others,  made  voyages. 
Most  of  them  were  from  the  l^ast  Indies,  in  the  East 
India  Company's  vessels  ;  or,  from  Macao,  under  Portu- 
guese colors  —  all  for  the  sole  purpose  of  collecting 
furs. 

The  only  British  voyages  worthy  of  consideration,  in 
this  book,  were  those  made  by  a  Portuguese  company,  at 
Macao,  in  which  John  Meares,  a  lieutenant  in  the  British 
navy,  on  half  pay,  was  concerned.  As  these  afforded  the 
British  nation  a  pretext,  though  an  unreasonable  one,  for 
a  difftcuHij  with  Spain,  they  deserve  particular  notice. 

The  Portuguese  company,  composed  of  Cavallo  and 
others,  fitted  out  two  expeditions  to  the  coast.  I  shall 
detail,  somewhat  minutely,  the  circumstances  of  each,  in 
order  the  more  clearly  to  explain  the  Nootka  Sound 
difficulty,  so  called,  Avhich  resulted  in  what  is  also  called, 
the  Nootka  Convention  ;  and  to  show  how  destitute  of 
importance  or  interest  to  Great  Britain  were  any  of  the 
>  oyages  made  by  her  subjects  ;  and  hoAv  groundless  was 
her  claim  to  any  part  of  the  territory  of  Oregon. 

Both  expeditions  were  from  ISIacao,  a  Portuguese  port ; 
and  by  a  Portuguese  company.  The  vessels  of  both  had 
Portuguese  captains,  and  Portuguese  and  ('hinese  crews; 
and  had  papers,  only,  in  th(^  Portuguese  language ;  and 
sailed  under  the  flag  of  Portugal ;    so   that  tliere  was 


Ml 


30 


m 


m 


nothing  English  abont  thorn,  sa>o  tlic  porsons  of  houten- 
ants  J.  Moan^s  and  J.  Cohiotl,  t\\v  roiinnandcrs.  In  the 
first,  yvvYv  vn\\)\o\cd  tlic  two  vessels,  I'ehco  and  Iplii- 
genia,  wliieh  siiik'd  early  in  17SS.  Meares,  apjiointed  to 
the  eonnnand,  arri\ed  in  the  l'"elice,  at  Xootka,  in  May, 
where,  having  obtained  of  Macininna.  the  chief,  the  xse 
of  a  fi'ir  sqnuri'  i/ttnis  of  (/rnntiil,  in  friendly  love,  he 
erected  a  temporary  bnihUng  or  hut,  and  ])ut  up  a  vessel 
of  forty  tons.  'J'he  building  or  shanty  (the  latter  a  mod- 
ern and  better  name)  was  for  the  safety  of  stores  and  the 
shelter  of  workmen.  Having  made  these  arrangements, 
he  sailed  on  a  cruise  southward  ;  and  tiaded  with  the 
Indians  in  t'lyoquot  Bay,  and  on  each  side  of  tiie  en- 
trance of  l)e  Fuca's  straits  ;  but  did  not  enter  that  sea. 
He  i)roceeded  southward  as  far  as  the  river  San  l{oc,  (on 
Maurelle's  chart  before  him.)  whi{  h,  also,  he  did  not 
enter  ;  nor  did  he  care  to  go  into  llu'  "  good  ])ort  "  of  the 
Si)aniards.  Tliere  were  strong  indications  of  some  estu- 
ary, or  bay,  or  other  indentation  of  the  shore,  worthy 
examination  ;  and  he  was  assured  of  the  existence  of 
some  hirire  river.  But,  for  some  reason  known  best  to 
himself,  perhaps  a  want  of  contidence  in  his  own  skill 
as  a  navigator,  he  was  induced  to  tack  about  shi[),  and 
leave  tluit  fearful  and  foaming  surf,  and  that  wild  roar  of 
iloods,  for  the  more  (piiet  and  parljic  shores  further  north. 
He  called  the  opening.  Deception  Bai/  ;  and  the  high 
rock,  on  tlie  northern  side,  C<i/)C  DisajipoiutmeNt  —  names 
which  have  been  clironicled  against  him,  as  though  for  a 
perpetual  remend)rance  of  his  stupidity.  The  bay  neither 
deceived,  nor  the  cape  disappointed  ;  only  the  warring- 
elements  about  them  bid,  at  times,  the  mariner  to  ad- 
vance with  care  and  caution. 

lie  returned  to  Nootka.  The  schooner  being  com- 
])leted,  was  called  Northwest  America,  and  put  to  sea. 
He  then  sailed  direct  to  Macao,  leaving  the  I[)higcnia  on 
the  coast. 

These  were  the  only  personal  acts  of  ■\Ieares  on  the 
coast  of  Oregon  ;  and  in  addition  to  the  e\  idence  alreatly 
adduced,  showing  they  were  performed  in  the  ser\  ice  of 


*> 


r^ 


[% 


m 


m 


y 


31 


ci  rortugucso  coiiipaiiy,  Ins  romitryman,  Portlock,  Avho 
could  lia\o  had  no  possible  motive  to  nusrc|)ros(>iit  the 
fact,  and  \vho  sailed  iVoiii  Macao  a  short  time  before 
^I(>ares.  testifies  in  his  journal,  that  Meares  had  engaged 
in  a  Porfnt/iicsc  1:1  pcdltioii. 

In  the  other  ex))edition,  besides  the  two  vessels  on  the 
coast,  uere  t^^(»  other  M'ssels,  tlu>  J'rince  lloyal  and  the 
Argonaut,  uhich  sailed  in  April,  ll^i),  -James  Colnett, 
also  a  lieutenant  in  the  Urltish  navy,  on  half  ])ay,  being- 
appointed  to  connnand.  A\'hile  Colnett.  in  the  Argonaut, 
was  on  his  way  to  Xootka,  the  Iphigenia  and  Northwest 
America  ])ut  into  that  place  in  distress.  Six  days  after- 
wards, conuno(U)re  j\Iartim>z  arrived  with  his  squadron, 
and  immediately  informed  the  ofHcers  of  the  Portuguese 
vessels,  and  of  the  American  ship  Columbia,  that  he  had 
come  to  take  possession  for  the  kinf/  of  Spain,  and  re- 
quested to  see  the  })apers  of  each  vessel,  and  to  know 
why  they  were  in  Nootka  Sound  ;  alleging,  that  the 
country  b<;lon</ed  to  his  Catholic  Majesty.  The  captain  of 
the  I[)higcnia  answered,  "•  Being  in  distress,  in  want  of 
provisions."  Americans,  j)resent,  state  that  this  vessel 
was  a  mere  wreck ;  and  that  the  conmiodore  i)ut  her  in 
good  repair,  and  furnished  every  necessary  supply  ;  but, 
soon  afterwards  sei/.ed  her  on  account  of  her  supposed 
instructions  to  capture  any  English,  Spanish  or  Russian 
vessel  met  with  on  the  coast.  Understanding  but  imper- 
fectly the  Portuguesf^  language,  he  misconstrued  her 
instructions.  Tlu^  mistake  being  discovered,  she  was 
restored  to  the  captain.  On  the  3 1st  of  May,  she  sailed 
to  places  further  u})  X\\v  coast,  where,  in  a  short  time,  she 
collected  a  valuable  carj'-o  of  sea-otter  skins. 

The  Prince  Ivoyal  arrived  on  the  IGth  of  June,  and 
left  on  the  4th  of  July.  On  the  same  day  she  sailed  out 
of  port,  the  Argonaut  entered.  In  regard  to  what  fur- 
ther happened,  ca})tains  11.  Gray  and  J.  Ingraham  state 
in  detail  in  their  re[)ly  to  Quadra,  the  Spanish  connnis- 
sioner  at  Nootka,  in  August,  17')'2,  requesting  information 
relative  to  the  transactions  between  the  English  and 
Spaniards  at  that  place.     Innnediately,  on  the  arrival  of 


■'■"';??5i^^'^^-. 


^ 


'■■»: 


32 


the  Argonaut,  rii])tain  Colnctt  was  in^■itc'(l  to  the  cabin  of 
the  Princcssa,  tlio  Spanish  coinmodoiv's  sliip,  wlicrc,  it 
appears,  withont  tlie  least  observance  of  the  eticpiette 
proper  on  that  occasion,  h(>  annonnced  it  to  be  his  object, 
in  coniin<;.  to  take  jiossession  of  that  phice.  Say  tliey, 
"  Cohn^tt  informed  the  Spanish  commandant,  tliat  he  had 
come  to  hoist  the  JJritish  tiaij^,  take  formal  possession;  — 
and  was  answered,  tliat  ])ossession  had  been  taken,  already, 
in  the  name  of  liis  Catholic  Majesty.  Colnctt  asked,  if 
he  wonhl  l)e  prevented  from  bnilding  a  house,  in  tlie  port. 
The  answer  was,  he  could  er(>ct  a  tent,  ^et  wood  and 
water,  and  then  would  be  at  liberty  to  depart.  A^ain, 
he  wanted  to  know,  if  he  would  be  ])crmitted  to  build  a 
block-house,  and  fort,  and  settle  a  colonv  for  the  crown 
of  Great  liritain  The  commandant  answ(n*ed,  No ;  to 
do  that,  would  violate  the  orders  of  his  king ;  and,  it 
would  be  relinciuishing  the  Sjianlard's  claim  to  the  coast ; 
besides,  the  vessels  did  not  belong  to  the  king  of  Eng- 
land ;  nor  was  he  (Colnett)  intrusted  with  powers  to 
transact  such  public  business."  Colnett  now  drew  and 
brandished  his  sword,  and  threatened  the  Spanish  officer 
on  board  his  own  ship,  in  his  own  castle.  The  Argonaut 
was  then  ordered  to  be  seized  *  The  sloop,  I'rince  lloyal, 
soon  after  this  event,  came  into  port,  the  second  time,  and 
she,  also,  was  taken  into  possession.f 

In  my  way  of  thinking,  Commodore  Martinez  acted 
in  support  of  the  honor  and  rights  of  his  nation.  The 
vessels  had  come  into  a  Si)anish  harbor  with  intentions 
to  invade.  Insults  had  been  offered  the  Spanish  flag ; 
and  a  bold  attempt  made  to  break  up  the  settlement 
just  commenced  at  Nootka  —  a  manifest  violation  of  the 
rights  of  Spain. 


*  ^  Howoll,  R.  Gray,  anri  J.  Ingraham,  were  eye  witnesses  to  the 
seizures  Their  statements  are  among  Ingraham's  papers  in  the 
national  archives,  at  Washington. 

t  Tlie  ofTicers  and  crews  were  treated  with  kindness.  The  cargoes 
were  given  up  at  the  times  of  the  seizures;  and  the  vessels  themselves 
were  finally  restored  :  nevertheless,  the  difficulty  nigh  involved  the 
two  nations  in  a  war;  and,  it  cost  Spain  over  $1,000,0U0. 


:/ 


■^. 


•>•> 


9 

.1 


i 


Thoso  arc  all  the  Icadinfj^  farts  rclativo  to  tho  seizures 
of  tlic  l*oi'tu<i;u('se  vessels,  whicli  Alcaics,  in  a  memorial 
to  the  IJritisli  Parlianieiit.  said  helonji^ed  to  him.  They 
eonstitiited  the  whole  ground  of  the  difficulty  which,  in 
17!)(),  existed  hetween  Spahi  and  i:;reat  Britain. 

Meares  may  have  conceived,  or  Cavallo  and  Company 
may  have  su«,'ii^ested  the  id(^a  of  seeking;,  throufj;h  the 
British  government,  indenniity,  for  the  loss  of  the  Portu- 
jifuese  company's  projuu-ty.  A  memorial  was,  therefore, 
prepared  and  taken  to  liondon.  It  was  easily  seen  to 
have  hcen  a  fouMj^n  e\p(>diti(ni  of  no  interest  to  th« 
British  nation.  To  give  it,  then,  national  importance, 
some  nohle  lord  may  have  recpicsted  Meares  —  most 
likely  did,  to  represent  to  tho  House  of  Commons,  that, 
besides  the  vessels  taken  from  him  by  the  Spaniards,  he 
was  dispossessed  of  hnids  which  he,  a  British  subject, 
had  purchased  of  Indian  chiefs.*  This  would  better 
meet  the  policy  of  his  nation ;  and  some  considerable 
advantage  might  be  made  to  accrue  to  her.  She  would 
have,  at  least,  a  plausible  pretext  for  exacting  the  desired 
indemnity ;  and  for  dictating  to  Spain  the  conditions  of 
a  treaty  which  she,  doubtless,  hoped  would  vest  her  with 
rights  of  domain  on  that  side  of  America.  Meares, 
therefore,  asserted  claims,  at  London,  not  thought  of  at 
Macao. 

The  memorial  states  as  follows ;  —  "  Your  memorialist, 
immediately  on  his  arrival  at  Xootka,  purchased  from 
Maquinna,  the  chief,  a  spot  of  ground,  whereon  he  built 
a  house  for  his  occasional  residence,  as  well  as  for  the 
more  convenient  pursuit  of  his  trade  with  the  natives." 
#  #  *  #  n  That  during  the  absence  of  your  memo- 
rialist from  Nootka  Sound,  he  obtained  from  Wicka- 
ninick,  the  chief  of  tlie  district,  situate  in  latitudes  48 
and  49  degrees,  in  consequence  of  considerable  presents, 
the  promise  of  a  free  and  exclusive  trade  with  the  natives 
of  tlie  district."  *  *  *  *  « That  he  purchased  of 
Tatooche,   the   chief  of  the   country  bordering  on  the 


m-A 


•  See  Hist.  N.  W.  Coast,  p.  113,  by  R.  Greenhow. 


■t 


^,.J^^;: 


¥^^ 


■>;'/^1 


34 


Straits  of  Juan  De  l-'iicn,  ii  tmct  of  land  within  said 
Straits." 

The  ninnorinllst  iuhnits,  that  tlic  Spaniards  "  built 
batteries,  storehouses, — "  and  that  tiiey  declared  tlio 
country  to  helouL;  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  and  took 
formal  possession  of  tlie  same;  and  ••  i)ert'ormcd  such 
ceifuionies,  as  are  usnal  on  sucli  oceasious." 

The  journal  of  Meares'  voyaj^c  is  silent  as  to  the 
purchase  of  lands ;  and  tliere  is  positive  and  clear  evi- 
dence, that  lu!  purchased  no  lands,  and  obtained  no 
%(iexclusive  ])rivilefj;es  of  trade  with  the  natives  —  did 
nothing  of  that  kind  on  the  coast.  lie,  uiulotibtedly, 
at  the  time  of  puttini;  up  the  scliooner,  in  Friendly 
Cove,  had  a  perfect  ri<;lit  to  purchase  lands  of  those 
Indians ;  it  being  prior  to  the  commencement  of  the 
occupancy  of  the  territory  by  the  Spaniards. 

Tlie  first  thing,  after  Vancouver's  arrival  at  Xootka, 
in  1792,  to  act  with  Quadra  in  carrying  into  effect  the 
Nootka  treaty,  was  to  ascertain  what  lands  and  huildhiffs 
belonged  to  British  subjects  "in  May,  178!)."  Inquiries 
were  made  of  Cai)tains  Gray  and  Ingraham,  and  other 
Americans,  and  of  Douglass,  a  Portuguese,  the  ca[)tain 
of  the  captured  Iphigenia,  an  acquaintance  of  Meares; 
and,  also,  of  the  Indians  themselves.  Their  answers 
were  uniformly  and  distinctly,  that  no  lands  had  ever 
been  purchased  by  Meares.  It  is  stated  by  Gray  and 
Ingraham,  in  their  reply  to  Quadra,  that,  Maquinna, 
executed  a  'iced,  conveying  to  the  king  of  Spain,  lands, 
and  accompanied  the  same  with  a  declaration,  that  he  had 
sold  no  brad  to  Mr.  Meares,  or  io  any  other  person  except 
Captain  John  Kendrick.  This  deed  and  declaration  was 
witnessed  by  ]Mr.  Howell  and  Captain  Magee.  It  is  further 
stated  by  Gray  and  Ingraham  — "  You  wish  to  know 
what  house  or  establishment  Mr.  ^Meares  had  at  the  time 
of  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards.  We  answer,  in  a  word, 
none.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Columbia,  in  the  year  1788, 
there  was  a  house,  or  rather  a  hut,  consisting  of  rough 
posts  covered  with  boards,  made  by  the  Indians ;  but 
this,  Captain  Douglass  pulled  down  prior  to  his  sailing 


4 


4B' 


86 

for  the  Snndwich  Islands  tho  same  year.  The  boardi 
ho  took  on  the  Iphif^eiiia,  and  tlie  root'  ho  ^iwv  to  Cap- 
tain Kendiick  for  firewood,  on  hoard  the  Cohunbia;  so 
that,  on  the  arrival  of  Don  E.  J.  Martinez,  there  was 
:.o  vesti«;e  of  a  lionse  remaininpj."  'J'he  commissionei*8, 
therefore,  findinf>:  that  no  Ihitish  subject  had  ever  pos- 
sessed "  lauds  or  l)uildin<)s  at  or  near  Xootka,"  could 
restore  none,  as  required  in  the  first  article  of  the 
tr(\"itv. 


■.'i*\ 


'iWl 


^ 


»■>'"' 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


* 


ATTEMPT  or  SPAIN  TO  COLONIZE  THE  NORTHERN    PART    OF    OREGON 

—  UNIIEA'^ONABLK   INTERFEKENCE  OF  OUEAT  BRITAIN THE 

AMERICAN    CLAIM    NORTH    OF    THE    49tH    PARALLEL. 

The  Spaniards,  by  order  of  the  Viceroyalty  of  Mexico, 
in  1789,  took  possession  of  the  northwest  coast  Avith  a 
view  to  its  colonization.  Commodore  Martinez  arrived, 
as  stated  on  the  27th  page,  with  two  war  vessels,  the 
Princessa  and  vSan  Carlos,  having  tlirie  Missionaries  to 
propagate  Christianity  among  the  natives.  Immediately 
on  his  arrival  at  Xootka  Sound,  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
a  tc»vn,  on  the  western  bank  of  Friendly  Cove,  which  is 
on  the  southern  side  of  Kendrick's  (Nuchatlet)  Island, 
forming  the  sound.  Dwelling-houses,  stores,  a  church, 
and  otlier  edifices  were  erected  ;  and  a  fort  was  built  on 
Uquatlc  Island,  a  short  distance  easterly  of  the  town. 
Farmers,  mechanics,  and  the  padr(>s  were  active  at  their 
respective  callings ;  and  much  was  done,  in  a  little  time, 
to  prejiare  for  bringing  that  portion  of  Oregon  under 
such  improvements,  physical  and  moral,  as  that  people 
were,  then,  capable  of  making. 

The  affairs  of  the  colony  went  on  prosperously  for 
eight  months  ;  when,  Martinez  received  orders  to  gather 
up  its  elements,  and  return  to  Mexico.     This  movement 


;,.«lf/- 'TiH'^-:^4y  ;.'■»>.  ..t. 


%h^.'X. 


fr. 


ili 


■ill' 


4«iT 


>1  ■"   *  * 


^'4^ 


36 


ffas  owing  to  the  difficulty  which  had  grown  out  of  the 
seizure  of  the  Portuguese  vessels. 

'  In  th(>  spring  of  WM),  Don  Francisco  Elisa,  with  more 
Vessels,  a  greater  number  of  settlers,  and  an  increased 
amount  of  (effects,  resumed  the  settlements.  The  village, 
in  Friendly  Cove,  was  extended  ;  and  the  people  were 
again  busily  t'mpljyed  in  farming,  mechanical  and  trading 
industry.  Another  settlement  was  now  commenced  ;  that 
at  Nittenat,  iv  the  entrancp  of  ])e  Fuca's  Straits.  Capt. 
Ingraham,  in  his  journal,  July  iJO,  1792,  speaks  concern- 
ing tliem  —  "I  accompanied  Capt.  llaro  (Spanish  officer) 
to  view  the  place  which  was  recently  a  wilderness ;  but, 
now,  a  garden.  The  village  consists  of  sixteen  dwelling- 
houses,  several  store-houses,  a  bake-house,  a  hospital,  &c. 
I  saw  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  Sec.  Haro  informed  me,  they 
had  three  frigates  and  two  schooners.  The  day  before 
our  arrival,  a  frigate  of  forty  guns  sailed  for  San  Bias, 
taking  away  a  part  of  the  men  and  stock  of  the  set- 
tlenients.  One  of  the  frigates  was  stationed  at  the  set- 
tlement, in  the  straits  ;  and  another,  with  the  two 
schooners,  was  em])loyed  in  making  examinations  of  the 
coast.  He  remarked,  the}'  expected  shortly  to  evacuate 
the  country.' 

The  "  Nootka  difficulty,"  at  this  date,  having  assumed 
a  threatening  aspect,  discouraged  the  Spaniards  in  their 
enterprise,  and  they  began  to  think  of  giving  it  up. 

The  colony  had  been  planted  in  a  fruitful  soil ;  and, 
for  a  while,  it  was  tlirifty ;  but,  all  at  once,  i'u  b^gan  to 
decay,  and  to  appear,  as  under  the  withering  effects  of 
violence.  It  continued,  liowever,  gradually  declining, 
until  March,  17J)5,  when  it  was  found  dead,  root  and 
branch. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1792,  Juan  Francisco  de  la 
Bodega  Y.  Quadra  was  sent  to  Nootka  to  succeed  Elisa 
in  the  government  of  the  colony  ;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
to  act  with  the  Britisl.  commissioner,  A'ancouver,  under 
the  convf^ntion  ])roviding  for  the  settlement  of  thq, 
troubles  which  the  false  statements,  in  IMeares'  memorial, 
had  caused  between  the  British  and  Spanish  courts.     He 


^ 


;!^ 


m-fi'v&^'Wi 


37 

left  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year ;  and  was  succeeded  by 
Salvador  Fidalj^o,  who  commanded  one  of  the  sliips  of 
the  squadron  which  arrived  in  the  sprincf  of  1790. 
Quadra,  before  his  departure,  received  for  his  h'mg^  as 
stated  in  a  fonner  chapter,  a  convei/ance  by  deed  of  a  part 
of  Maquinna's  territory  ;  in  whicli  deed,  was  a  derlaratton 
that  no  lands  had  been  sold  to  any  person  excepting  to 
Copt.  John  Kendrick,  who  was  acknowledged  to  be  jor'?- 
jirietor  of  lands  about  Nootka.  The  deed  and  declaration 
were  witnessed  by  C'a])t.  j\Iag'e(^  and  Mr.  Howell.  (See 
Ingraham's  papers,  in  the  national  archives.) 

1'he  commandant,  Fi(hd<;o,  continued  until  the  begin- 
ning of  171)4,  wh(>n  the  settlements  were  placed  under 
the  care  of  Colonial  Alava. 

'J'he  king  ot"  Spain,  finally,  determined  to  discontinue 
those  attem[)ts  to  colonize,  which  the  cupidity  of  the 
government  and  subjects  of  Great  Britain  had  rendered 
so  difficult.  The  S])aniaids,  th(>refore,  obedient  to  the 
royal  command,  in  ^larch,  l79o,  collected  their  efiects 
and  forces,  and  departed  from  that  portion  of  the  Spanish 
domain. 

Concerning  the  settlement  at  Nootka,  the  late  John  R. 
Jewett,  who  left  that  i)lace,  in  IhOiJ,  after  being  three 
years  in  captivity  among  those  Indians,  says,  in  his  nar- 
rative —  "  The  foundations  of  ♦^he  church  and  the  gov- 
ernor's house  are  still  to  be  seen  ;  and  the  European 
plants  continue  to  be  self-propagated." 

The  commissioners,  .Quadra  an  ^  A'ancouver,  found  no 
lands  or  buildings  Avhich  had  ever  been  possessed  by 
Britis/i  subjects,  to  be  restored ;  but  they  found  lands, 
extensive  tracts  of  lands  which  had  been  purchased  by 
Kendrick  ;  and  a  tract,  perhaps,  the  balance  of  Maquin- 
na's t(>rritory,  which  had  been  //ranted  to  the  King  of 
'  Spain.  No  ])art  '•  of  the  coast,  or  its  adjacent  islands," 
were  surrendered  to  Great  Britain;  because,  none  be- 
longed to  that  nation.  Nothing  was  restored;  and,  noth- 
ing was  surrendered.  They  agreed  to  report  to  their 
respective  governments,  and  av/ait  further  orders. 

.Subsequent  to  Vancouver's  report,  Mr.  Fox,  in  Parlia- 


4 


% 


» 


,:^S-y'r  ■*■?*>>;?     ;i<s;v!S'»5^!|-: 


88 


•^''  ut  • 


1"."  "^H, 


'1 


H 


ment,  remarked  that  the  British  ^ovemment  had  acquired 

Ithing  under  the  treaty ;  and  Mr.  Ik'lshar.i,  an  eminent 
listorian,  noted,  that  the  S[)anish  tiaj?-  at  Xootka  was 
never  struck;  and  the  territory  was  virtually  relinquished 
'by  Great  Britain. 

I  will  here  remark,  though  it  iviay  not  be  exactly  in 
place,  that  the  title  of  Si)aiu  to  Oregon,  —  perfect  as 
"imaginable,  in  my  way  of  thinking,  —  was  quitclaimed, 
in  1819,  to  the  United  States;  and  that  Spain,  up  to  that 
year,  regarded  the  whole  coast  from  her  (alifornias  to 
the  60th  north  parallel,  as  belonging  to  herself.  So  did 
Great  Britain  )'egard  it,  as  belonging  to  Spain.  She  did 
not  so  nuicli  as  entertahi  a  question  upon  the  subject, 
until  after  the  Hudson  Bay  (Company  planned  to  ])er- 
petuatc  its  monopolies  in  that  country ;  and  to  fasten  its 
liG^.d  on  Quadra's  Island. 

Islr.  Burke,  an  English  historian  of  some  repute,  in  his 
account,  in  17(U,  of  the  European  settlements  in  America, 
says, —  "The  Spaniards,  as  they  first  discovered  the  con- 
tinent, have  the  largest  and  richest  share  on  it.  1'hey 
have  all  that  part  which  comprises  the  Isthmus  of  Mex- 
ico, and  what  is  beyond  that  towards  the  river  Mississippi 
on  the  east,  and  the  Pacific  on  tlie  west  and  northwest.'' 
On  a  map  attached  to  his  work,  and  "'  drawn  from  the 
best  modern  mai)s  and  charts  by  Innon  Bowen,  geogra- 
pher to  his  Majesty,"  nvn  laid  down  the  Spanish  posses- 
sions. North  of  the  44th  north  parallel  is  written  "  ports 
undiscovered."  The  British,  then,  claimed  no  territory 
south  of  this  parallel ;  and,  had  made  no  discoveries,  and 
knew  nothing  north  of  it. 

Thus,  I  have  given  accounts  of  the  ^  oyages,  discoveries, 
and  explorations  on  th«.  coast  of  Oregon  by  the  S[)aniards. 
They  '^  ade  minute  examinations  of  every  part  of  it ;  and 
there  was  not  left,  in  1792,  a  river  or  island,  or  point  or 
indentation  or  place  of  the  least  importance  on  those 
shores  for  Vancouver  or  any  of  his  nation  first  to  discover 
or  examine,  t  have  shown,  satisfactorily  to  myself,  if  not 
to  others,  that  prior  to  the  year  just  named,  13ritons  had 
made  no  discoveries,  and  have  done  nothing  by  national 


'\' 


; 


«l 


} 


\   ' 


30 


authority.     Tliov  wore  unable  to  find  rivers,  straits  and; 
inlets,  which  were  distinctly  laid  down  on  charts  befor^l 
them ;  and,  which  had  often  been  visited  by  the  Span- 
iards. 

The  acts  performed  by  Americans  and  Spaniards  north 
of  the  49th  parallel  have  been  described.  They  were  of 
greater  national  importance  than  those  performed  by 
Americans,  south  of  that  parallel.  The  Spanish  settle- 
ments on  Quadra's  Island,  connnenced  in  1789,  and  con- 
tinued to  1795,  wen*  not  mere  trading  establishments  like 
that  at  the  mouth  of  the  (.'olumbia  river,  by  Astor;  but, 
they  were  settlements  made  with  a  view  to  the  perma- 
ment  occupancy  and  the  colonization  of  the  country,  and 
to  the  highest  good  of  the  Indian  race. 

All  "  th"  material  facts "  relative  to  the  American 
^laim  to  Oregon  nor^h  of  the  49th  parallel  have  been 
given,  chiefly  to  show  those  bettei^  grounds  of  "  our 
claim,"  which  the  Boston  merchant'  hi  his  lecture  "  on 
Oregon "  before  the  Mercantile  Library  Association, 
neglected  to  describe ;  and  perhaps,  I  ought  to  say,  en- 
deavored, and  studiously  sought  to  conceal ;  but,  partly, 
as  I  have  said,  once  or  twice  before  this,  to  vindicate 
4  myself,  —  seeing  others  will  not  do  it  for  me. 

I  will  now  attemi)t  to  explain  the  nature  of  the  con- 
veyances by  the  Indian  chiefs,  in  the  north  of  Or'^gon,  of 
large  portions  of  their  territory  to  the  king  of  Spain  and 
to  the  American  citizen,  Kendrick. 

TIm'  fridians,  by  the  conveyance  to  Spain,  made  choice 
of  :•.<•'  Mfuion  to  be  their  friend  and  (jiiardian.  Its  efl'ect 
w;.'  '.n  ummate  her  claim  to  sovereignty.  Although 
some  n  "  iit  doubt,  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  her 
explorations  and  settlements,  it  placed  the  question  of 
title  bevond  all  ground  of  contro>  ersv. 

In  all  mv  iii'iuiries,  I  have  not  vet  discovered  the  least 
claim  possessed  by  (iiroat  Ih'itain,  previous  to  184(),  to 
any  part  of  the  northwest  coast.  Previous  to  the  occur- 
rences, at  Nootka,  conceining  the  Portuguese  vessels,  she 
p;  rtended  to  none ;  and  had,  more  than  once,  in  her 
iva/i'ractions  with  Spain,  admitted  the  fact  of  having  none. 


i 


y 


<'i^4f^ 


t   *t 


^ 


?#v' 


'k' 


40 


After  those  occurrences,  it  is  believed,  she  thought  to  get 
up  something  through  the  "said  Mcares,"  on  which  to 
ground  some  claim,  but  wholly  failed  to  accomplish  the 
object.  The  Spanish  claim  to  Oregon  was  not  weakened 
by  the  Nootka  treaty.  There  was,  as  I  conceive,  no  call 
for  that  treaty  —  no  occasion  for  the  national  misunder- 
standing whicli  it  settled.  Spain  acknowledged  in  it,  no 
rights  as  belonging  to  Great  Britain ;  nor  surrendered 
rights  of  her  own  ;  but,  she  was  threatened  with  the 
horrors  of  a  war ;  and  yielded  to  the  dictations  of  Eng- 
land, as  a  weak  man  sometimes  yields  to  the  unreasonable 
dictations  of  a  strong  one. 

I  will'  cite  from  liib  :  n  instance  showing  public 
opinion  as  to  the  national  antagc  to  be  derived  from  a 
ffranf  of  Indian  territory,  such  as  was  made  to  Spain  by 
the  Indians  of  Quadra's  Island  ;  or  from  purchases,  such 
as  were  made  by  lyendrick.  Tlie  East  India  Company 
obtained  from  Indian  princes  certain  grants  of  land.  A 
question  being  raised  as  to  tlie  company's  right  to  hold,  a 
petition  was  presented  to  the  king,  which  was  referred  to 
the  attorney  and  solicitor-general,  which  report  laid  down 
the  following  principles :  —  •'  In  respect  to  such  places  as 
have  been  acquired  hy  purchase  or  gra fit,  youv  Majesty's 
letters  patent  are  not  necessary.  The  propertt/  of  the  soil 
is  vested  in  the  company  subject  only  to  your  Majesty's 
right  of  sovereignty."* 

English  history  furnishes  other  precedents  recognising 
the  national  right,  which,  under  some  circumstances,  is 
acquired  by  purchases  oi  grants  of  Indian  lands.  Captain 
Kendrick,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  1793,  supposed 
that  his  purchases  vested  the  United  States  with  a  right 
to  sovereignty ;  and  so  undoubtedly  it  would,  had  not 
Spain,  by  her  public  acts,  already  acquired  that  right. 

The  validity  of  the  Kendrick  })urchases,  was  explicitly 
admitted  in  tlic  Nootka  treaty ;  the  first  article  of  which 
reads  as  follows  :  — ''  The  buildings  and  tracts  of  land,  at 
and  near  Nootka,  of  which  the  subjects  of  his  Britannic 


I 


t ' 


*  Bolt's  History,  App.  Vol.  I. 


^i' 


41 


a 


Majesty  wore  dispossessed  by  Spanish  officers,  shall  be 
restored  to  the  said  Britisli  subjects." 

The  hxnds  which  the  Ih'itisli  subject  ^Icares  pretended 
to  ])ossess,  re  i)ortions  of  tlie  identical  lands  purchased 
by  K(Muhi(k.  It',  then,  ^leares  had  a  right  to  ])urchase, 
Keiuhick  had  a  right :  and  a  better  one  too  ;  because,  he 
and  other  Americans  had  niad(^  discoveries  and  explor- 
ations on  tliat  coast ;  and  had  taken  ])ossession  of  the 
purcliased  territory  in  the  name  of  their  country  ;  and 
had  biult  forts  on  the  same ;  and  had  kept  up  for  years,  a 
friendly  trading  intercourse  with  the  natives. 

The  first  article  of  that  treaty,  also,  clearly  recognises 
the  principle  of  right  in  individuals  to  purchase  in  their 
own  name,  lands  of  independent  Indian  tribes. 

Fhudly,  without  fear  of  contradiction  I  say  it,  the 
Kendrick  ])urchases  were  more  available  in  strengthening 
our  country's  claims  to  Oregon,  than  any  other  acts  per- 
formed by  our  citizens  in  that  territory. 

The  principal  fiicts  concerning  those  purchases  have 
been  collected  by  me,  and  were  intended  to  constitute  the 
9th  and  lOth  chapters  of  this  book ;  but  they  are  here 
omitted,  for  the  reason,  a  committee  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  I  am  told,  have  prepared  a  report  upon 
that  long  deferred  claim ;  and  will  soon,  I  am  also  told, 
furnish  the  public  with  a  full  history  of  it, —  undoubtedly 
more  complete  and  lucid  than  is  possible  for  my  feeble 
pen  to  do.  I  am  glad  the  petitioners,  at  length,  have  so 
fair  a  prospect  of  coming  into  po>^session  of  their  rich 
paternal  inheritance ;  for,  while  some  of  them  are  widows 
and  orphans,  others  are  active  and  useful  men,  deservedly 
classed  among  the  most  worthy  of  our  citizens. 


4 


6 


42 


CHAPTER  IX. 


i   ^ 


ifil 


ir ! 


PUBLIC      MEN      DECEIVED      CONCERNING      THE      AMERICAN      CLAIMS, 

PUBLIC     AND     PRIVATE,     TO     OREGON;  THE      CHIEF      PIONEER 

IN    EFFECTING    THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    THE    POSSESSIONS    OF    THE 
UNITED  STATES,    IN   THE    FAR    WEST,    PERSECUTED. 

On  tlio  preceding  pages  are  given,  in  detail,  the  leading 
facts  within  my  knowledge,  relative  to  the  nature  of  our 
claims  to  the  north-eastern  shores  of  the  Paciiic  ;  and 
are  described  in  my  broken  and  plain-spoken  way,  with- 
out poetry  or  imagery  or  rhetorical  flourish,  the  adroit 
acts  of  Spaniards  and  Americans,  on  and  about  Quadra's 
Island.  It  now  becomes  my  painful  duty  to  describe  the 
artful  and  treacherous  acts  of  Englishmen  and  of  my 
own  countrymc^n,  performed  on  the  Atlantic,  as  well  as 
the  Pacific  shores.  The  first  acts  consummated  the 
American  claims.  The  last  concealed  their  best  evidences 
from  tlie  public  view. 

The  treaty-making  power  being  deceived,  acted  with 
too  little  understanding  in  settling,  in  1846,  with  Great 
Britain,  the  question  of  titlo  to  that  territory.  The  illus- 
trious members  composing  both  branches  of  the  national 
assembly,  doubtless,  sought  to  promote  the  interests  of 
the  people  ;  but  they  reposed  too  much  confidence  in  the 
individuals,  public  and  private,  who  volunteered  to  lead 
in  the  investigations. 

I  hope  it  is  no  hazard  thus  freely  to  express  my  senti- 
ments. They  arc  the  honest  sentiments  of  a  free-hearted 
and  oppressed  son  of  American  freedom.  Though  it 
should  cost  me  the  last  remaining  comforts  of  life,  I  shall 
express  them.  Risk  Avhat  it  may,  I  shall  brave  it.  I 
must  bear  it.  Resolved  to  be  true  to  conscience  and  to 
the  cause  of  humanity,  while  God  spares  me,  I  shall 
continue  in  my  place  —  shall  fight  manfully,  wherever 
divinely  directed  —  be  it  where  it  may  —  be  it  "in  the 
fore-front  of  the  hottest  battle." 


A. 


a 


T 


i^ 


up 


•J 


i 


43 


The  late  John  Q  Adains,  once  remarked,  in  a  debate, 
tliat  lie  was  ii;noiant  uj)on  the  subject ;  and  relied  for  in- 
formation on  those  who  were  givin*^  particular  attention 
to  the  (question.  So  Senator  Benton,  if  recollection 
ser\es  me  correctly,  (I  have  a  voucher,  though  not  at 
liand.)  >irtually  said  in  some  ap[)ropriate  remarks  con- 
cerning the  treachery  of  the  author  of  the  book  Avhich 
had  been  specially  prepared  for  the  Senate,  that  Congress 
was  decei\ed  by  him  on  whom  reliance  had  been  made 
for  correct  information.  A  zealous  and  ever-busy  advocate 
of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  a  priAate  citizen,  says,  in  a 
certain  lecture,  printed  in  Boston,  and  widely  diftiised 
over  the  country,  in  substance,  the  same  thing ;  that 
many  in  Congress  were  ignorant  of  the  real  merits  of  the 
ciuestion. 

Among  my  notes  is  an  extract  appearing  to  be  taken 
from  that  lecture.  I  will  venture  to  give  it  as  being  cor- 
rect ;  —  "I  have  thus,"  said  the  lecturer,  " endeavored  to 
give  you  the  material  facts,  in  relation  to  our  claim  to 
territory  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to  the  pre- 
sent state  of  tlie  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  in  relation  to 
it.  There  is,  evidently,  a  lamentable  ignorance  upon  the 
subject,  both  among  those  who  call  loudly  for  action,  and 
those  whose  position  gives  them  the  poAver  to  act ;  and  it 
seems  to  me,  that  many,  both  in  and  out  of  Congress, 
"who  are  most  clamorous  for  taking  immediate  possession 
of  the  wliole  territory  of  Oregon,  know  little,  if  any 
thing,  of  the  real  merits  of  the  (luestion."  The  whole 
territory.  He  would  not,  by  any  means,  have  the  com- 
pany dispossessed  of  Quadra  s  Island. 

How  artful !  How  thick  the  moral  darkness  covering 
the  ])lans  and  purpose  s  of  the  com[)any  I  How  entirely 
concealed  by  that  lecturer  were  the  best  grounds  of  "  our 
claim  "  to  Oregon  ! 

From  a  personal  acquaintance  with  the  lecturer,  I  am 
persuaded  he  was  not  of  those  who  know  but  "  little." 
It  apj)earcd  to  me,  he  knew  much  of  tlie  "  merits  of  the 
question  ; "  and  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  keep  out  of 
sight  all  the  "  material  facts."     He  was  the  leading  op- 


*./: 


wm 


m 


44 


e<i 


i 


poser  of  the  colonization  of  Ort<]^on ;  and,  to  difficulties 
thrown  in  niv  path  hv  him,  were  diietiv  to  be  attributed 
the  delays  in  the  acconiplislinient  of  that  great  undertak- 
ing, lie  has  done  nuieh ;  and,  perliaps,  is  still  dohig 
-what  h(>  can  to  ])erpetuate  the  hold  of  the  company  upon 
the  territory  north  of  the  line,  (unreasonably  crooked,) 
suggested  by  him,  as  being  proper  for  the  northern  limit 
of  "  our  claim." 

The  public  were  told,  and  made  to  believe,  that  there 
were  "  four  grounds "  sustaining  the  claim  ;  and,  that 
they  were  all  south,  and  none,  north  of  the  49th  parallel. 
One  of  them,  Astor's  doings  on  the  banks  of  the  Colum- 
bia, really  weakened  the  claim.  The  very  naming  of 
them,  as  grounds,  was  an  imposition  upon  the  wisdom  of 


Congress. 


J^othing  was  said   in  the  lecture   concernmg 


the  attempts  of  Spain,  to  colonize  north  of  the  49th  par- 
allel ;  and  nothing  concerning  the  land  conveyances  to 
his  Catholic  ^lajesty,  and  to  American  citizens,  things 
wliich  gave  title,  if  any  transections  between  those  civil- 
ized and  savage  men,  could  do  it. 

Furthermore,  that  lecturer,  the  earliest  and  ablest  ad- 
vocate of  the  company,  that  fluent  talker,  talked  much, 
before  and  after  my  visit  to  Oregon,  talked  unreasonably 
about  that  country,  the  enterjjrise,  and  the  benefits  wliich 
I  had  predicted  would  accrue  to  mankind. 

I  will  now  notice  other  men,  whose  mouths,  for  many 
years,  have  been  full  of  evil-speaking ;  and  hearts,  of 
deceit  and  intrigue.  If  I  can  prevent  it,  those  friends 
of  the  company,  and  servants  of  the  devil,  shall  no  longer 
deceive  public  men  ;  nor  persecute  him  whom  they 
ha\e  made  to  suffer  most  terrible  evils  for  the  country's 
sake. 

With  the  worst  of  objects  in  view,  scores  of  lying 
tongues  and  pens  have  been  employed  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  to  circulate  falsehoods  among  my  friends 
and  acquaintance  ;  and  in  the  ears  of  public  men.  At 
first,  much  Avas  said  about  the  "  cold  and  barren  "  coun- 
try beyond  the  llocky  Mountains,  and  of  difficulties  in 
going  to  it  —  about  savage  Indians  and  disasters  happen- 


I  • 


45 


^ 


ing  to  hunters.  INlisroprcsontations  of  this  kind  Avcrc 
iVo([n(.'nt,  piirticuhirly  in  those  parts  ■where  emigration 
■was  likelv  to  set  the  stronij-est.  After  this  manner,  the 
coh)ni/ation  of  Oregon  was  retartk'd  mitil  after  the  offi- 
cers and  servants  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Com})any  had 
sek>eted  the  best  tracts  of  kind,  and  the  best  farming 
positions ;  and  Quadra's  Island  had  been  conceded,  in  tlie 
treaty  of  184G,  to  Great  Britain.  After  tliosc  events,  the 
settk'ments  ■were  k'ft  to  increase  and  prosper ;  but  myself 
to  be  made  the  subject  of  horrible  persecution. 

Great  injustice  has  been  done  me,  and  is  doing  me  in 
misrepresentations,  by  multitudes  of  interested  individu- 
als, and  in  the  reports  of  certain  public  officers,  and  in 
books  giving  historical  accounts  of  Oregon.  These  men 
and  authors,  duty  requires  me  to  notice  with  severe,  though 
just  animadversions  ;  because,  they  have  deceived  and 
treacherously  treated  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
and  disregarded  the  interests  of  the  people  ;  and  because, 
they  have  seized  the  opportunity  afforded  by  the  misfor- 
tunes brought  upon  me,  partly,  through  means  of  their 
own,  to  bind,  hand  and  foot,  and  send  me  into  exile,  and 
to  blot  out  my  name  from  the  catalogue  of  the  faithful. 
Their  revenge  thirsted  for  blood,  therefore,  have  they  con- 
tinued with  hounds  and  bidl-dogs  to  follow  close  after 
the  faint  and  wearied  victim  of  their  cruelty. 

The  men  whose  conduct  first  deserve  censure  from  my 
pen,  are  the  late  Jason  Lee,  and  the  living  ])aniel  Lee, 
the  first  missionaries  whom  the  New  England  conference 
of  the  Metliodist  ]"ipiscopal  church  ordained  and  sent  to 
the  Indians  in  Oregon.  They  arrived  in  that  territory  in 
l!S;54,  a  few  da}s  previous  to  myself.  Their  mission  was 
the  first  west  of  the  llocky  Mountains.  That  it  Avas 
founded  througli  my  instrumentality,  will  be  seen  by  the 
afHdavit  of  "William  C.  Brown,  Esq.,  who,  for  many  years, 
was  the  editor  of  /ion's  Herald,  the  leading  paper  of  the 
Methodist  community  in  New  England.  He  testifies  as 
follows: — "I  published  for  Mr.  Kelley  a  series  of  letters, 
addressed  to  a  member  of  Congress,  developing  fully  his 
plans  for  settling  the  Oregon  territory,  and  also  the  true 


■  •  Tywi  - 


46 


I 


principles  and  objects  of  colonization,  as  he  understands 
them. 

"  At  other  times,  Mr.  Kelley  made  philanthropic  ap- 
peals to  the  public,  throu<>h  the  medium  of  our  ])aper, 
chiefiv,  with  tlie  view  to  excite  the  minds  of  the  ('hristian 
community  to  the  importance  of  foundinja:  religious  insti- 
tutions in  that  territory. 

"  Perhaps  to  his  zeal  and  persevering  efforts,  is  the  re- 
ligious community  chiefly  indebted  for  their  missionary 
establishments  in  that  countrv." 

I  had  a  personal  accpiaintance  with  Jason  Lee,  the 
uncle  of  Daniel,  and  had  particularly  a  knowledge  of  the 
plans  and  operations  of  both,  during  the  short  period  of 
their  acting  the  part  of  ambassadors  of  Christ.  Experi- 
ence and  observation,  and  what  I  have  read  in  the  book 
of  nature,  concerning  them,  qualify  me  to  judge  as  to  the 
consistency  of  their  course  of  conduct,  while  missionaries. 
Mr.  llobinson  and  his  church  declared,  that,  one  of  the 
reasons  of  their  coming  to  America,  was,  the  extension  of 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom ;  but,  there  was  nothing  dis- 
coverable, in  the  disposition  and  strange  conduct  of  the 
Lees,  indicating  this  to  be  one  of  the  inducements  which 
led  them  to  that  distant  field  of  missionary  enterprise. 

To  learn  tlie  particular  circumstances  of  their  mission, 
see  History  of  the  Colonization  of  the  Oregon  Territory, 
under  the  head  of  Origin  of  the  Colonizing  oettlements. 

Those  men,  like  numerous  others  of  the  friends  of  the 
Hudson  15ay  Company,  have  mocked  me.  In  all  they 
have  said  and  written,  relative  to  Oregon,  they  have  in. 
jured  me.  Wliilo  it  casts  no  reproach  upon  Christianity, 
it  argues  a  high  degree  of  individual  depravity,  that,  a 
professed  disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  persecutes  an 
unoffending  fellow-mortal,  one  striving  hard  to  be  emi- 
nently instrumental  in  doing  good  to  his  sinful  race. 

The  following  is  found  in  the  report  of  Lieutenant 
Howison,  a  government  agent :  — 

"  The  American  missionaries  commenced  the  settlement 
of  Oregon."  The  persons  here  meant  are  the  missionaries 
of  whom  I  am  speaking.     Now  I  know  they  did  nothing 


<! 


47 


<l. 


to  commence,  or  even  to  encourage  that  settlement ;  but 
did  something  to  retard  emigration  to  that  territory.  Ja- 
son Lee  obligated  himself  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
so  to  do.  When  I  was  at  Vancouver,  on  the  Columbia, 
h(>  often  clandestinely  left  the  fort,  and  came  into  my 
cabin,  and  conversed  freely  about  his  j)lans  and  intentions. 
He  once  said,  he  was  preparing  for  a  great  farming  estab- 
lishment, where,  to  produce  supplies  for  other  stations; 
and  also  said,  he  was  opposed  to  persons  eomimf  to  settle  in 
that  territory,  exce])ting  such  as  Avould  belong  to  the 
missionary  family,  and  aid  in  missionary  enterprise  ;  and, 
he  should  do  nothing  contrary  to  the  wisbes  of  Dr. 
McLaughlin,  who  had  agreed  to  loan  him  .«^I5()().  About 
the  time  of  his  making  these  remarks,  he  recei^■ed,  in  my 
presence,  a  part  of  the  loan  from  the  Company's  store 
houses. 

The  "  American  missionaries  "  were  thus  bought  to  co- 
operate in  opposing  the  incipient  movements  towards  the 
colonization  of  Oregon.  Neither  of  them  were  ever 
known  to  speak  respectfully  of  me.  AVhile  on  a  visit  to 
the  States,  Jason  Lee  was  asked,  at  his  boarding-house 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  if  Kelley  had  not  something 
to  do  in  settling  Oregon ;  he,  then,  replied,  as  afterwards, 
in  other  places :  that  "  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kelley 
came  there,  without  mind  or  means  to  do  any  thing  ;  and 
went  away."  How  ungrateful !  His  being,  himself,  in 
that  delightful  country,  where  so  many  things  could  con- 
tribute to  his  comfort  and  happiness,  was  all  due  the 
Kelley  whom  he  abused.  It  was  as  though  I  had  taken 
him  by  the  hand  and  conducted  him  thither,  all  the  way 
from  New  England.  He  knew  me  to  be  encompassed  by 
implacable  and  determined  enemies  both  in  that  and  this 
countrv.  It  v/as,  therefore,  unkind.  It  was  cruel.  It 
had,  somewhat,  the  appearance  of  sinning  against  God 
with  a  high  hand  and  a  loud  voice. 

Jason  Lee  is  dead.  He  was  cut  down  in  the  vigor  of 
manhood  —  in  the  midst  of  his  days.  I  would  not  utter 
a  harsh  word  in  reference  to  his  memory  ;  but  the  living 
force  me  to  do  it.     Deeply  do  I  regret  the  circumstances 


48 


which  drive  me,  in  this  instaiiee,  to  the  vindication  of  my 
blc(>din<j:  churacter.  Faith  and  vc^pentanccs  I  trust,  have 
fixed  Ids  abode,  eternally  anioiifjf  the  ^h)ritied  and  re- 
joieiiii;  spirits  in  the  shining  tii>l(is  of  heaven. 

J)aniel  liCe  has  Avritten  a  hook  entith'd  "Ten  Years  in 
Oreii'on, '  which  serves  well  th(>  jjurposes  and  interests  of 
the  Hudson  liay  Company;  and  deceives  those  who  ivnd 
its  pa|4es.  Like  many  other  hooks  concerninj''  that  ter- 
ritory, it  makes  me  its  victim.  Its  author  was  not  i<;no- 
rant  of  my  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  my 
benevolent  achievements  in  behalf  of  mankind ;  vet,  he 
is  silent  concerniiijUf  me,  —  says  nothin<if  of  the  laborious 
efforts  and  expensive  sacrifices  in  the  h)uely  work  of 
carrying  the  blessinj>s  of  Christian  civilization  into  the 
very  country  of  which  he  pretended  to  <^ive  a  fair  history. 
He,  however,  makes  a  singl(>  allusion  to  me,  and  to  the 
party  which  constituted  the  first  American  scttk'mcnt 
beyond  the  llocky  ISIountains.  It  reads  as  follows :  — 
"A  party  headed  by  Mr.  Ewing  Young,*  an  American 
from  one  of  the  western  States,  arrived  in  the  Wallamet 
from  California,  embracing  about  a  dozen  jiersons,  most 
of  them  from  the  United  States.  Some  of  them  had 
been  sailors,  some  hunters  in  the  mountains  and  in  the 
region  bordering  on  California  to  the  south,  and  one 
Mr.  Kelly  was  a  traveller,  a  New  England  man,  who 
entertained  some  very  extravagant  notions  in  regard  to 
Oregon,  which  he  published  on  his  return." 

I  shall  not  trouble  myself  to  say  much  in  regard  to 
this  unfeeling  man  ;  or  to  this  act  of  brutal  cruelty 
towards  the  victim  of  his  book. 

It  will  be  noticed,  that  one  part  of  my  name  is  omit- 
ted ;  the  other  part  miss])elt.  It  was  purposely  so  done 
to  deceive  the  reader,  to  conceal  the  real  New  England 
man.  "  On  his  return,  he  published  some  very  extrava- 
gant notions."  Have  I  been  patriotic  and  faithful,  and 
represented  that  country  as  being  the  finest  on  which  the 


t 


Vl' 


*  Hist,  of  the  Colonization  of  Oregon  Territory,  attached  to  this 
book,  page  7. 


I 


li) 


Nun  sliincs ;  iind  as  possrssliif.!;  natural  a(lvanta'4('s  for 
n^ricultiMC  and  coiiinu^'cc,  uiisiirijasscd  in  any  otluu'  part 
of  tlic  rarth  {  I  liavc  so  been,  and  so  published  ;  and 
my  notions  are  not  <'.vtr(n'(((f<tnt.  I  n  turned  in  1(S;U); 
and.  altbouyh  sutferini;' feel)le  health,  —  at  times,  ])ros- 
tratiou  of  iiealth,  —  I  continued  to  publish,  for  several 
years,  chiefly  in  newsj)ai)ers,  my  views  concernini?  that 
fair  and  charniiny'  territory.  1  prepared  a  menioii'  rela- 
tive to  Alta  California  and  Oregon,  which  was  printed 
by  CV)n<4:ress  ;  it  bein<j^  a  connnunication  to  the  committee 
on  Foreign  Affairs  in  the  House.  Nothing  rcri/  (wtiuiva- 
ifdut  is  found  in  it.  Nothing  but  plain  truths  can  be 
found  in  that  document.  Nothing  but  such,  in  any  of 
the  mass  of  ])ublications  from  my  pen,  whicli,  between 
the  years  1825  and  18-}"i.  were  so  freely  spread  over  the 
States  to  enlighten  about  On^gon ;  and  to  induce  emi- 
gration thither;  and  to  make  that  remote  region  acces- 
sible to  missionary  enterprise. 

13oth  the  editor  of  the  Boston  Rambler,  and  the  author 
of  the  Ten  Years  in  Oregon,  had  read  Kelley's  books, 
and  tracts,  and  were  alike  well  informed  in  that  part  of 
Ills  history  which  appertained  to  the  settlement  of  Ore- 
gon. Both  were  for  ])ersecuting  Kelley  ;  yet,  how  differ- 
ently do  they  s[)eak  of  him  !  It  might  be  inierred  from 
Lee's  remark,  as  (pioted  from  his  book,  that  my  name  was 
not  even  to  be  associated  with  those  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  settlement. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  Rambler,  May  22, 
1847.  The  language  to  be  particularly  noticed  is  under- 
scored by  me. 

"  VVliatevor  onr  riglit  to  Orcrron  may  be,  wo  cannot  sufHcicntly  con- 
jrratiilalt!  ourselves  tliat  no  war  has  taken  place  for  a  region  of  barren 
inounlains,  whose  whole  present  value;  would  not  defray  the  expense 
of  maintain ni<f  a  single  regiment  for  a  single  year;  whose  whole 
futun^  one  will  have  to  be  created  by  its  actual  scttloi's,  since  it  pos- 
sesses none  of  its  own.  Still,  hundreds,  we  believe  we  might  say 
thousands,  have  been  lured  to  the  valley  of  tbe  Columbia  by  false 
representations  and  delusive  expectations." 

"  Some  twenty  years  ago,  a  crack-brained  schoolmaster  of  Boston, 
named  Kelly,  got  up  an  excitement  about  Oregon  in  the  New  Eng- 


! 


50 


land  States,  and  a  society,  called  tlio  On-rron  Colonization  Society. 
The  tracts  of  this  man  and  tiiis  society  wt-n;  dissciniiiatcd  Jar  and 
7cidt\  and  mtunj  were  indiirrd  Inj  lliciii  to  nhairdoii  l/ieir  hoiitrs  and 
venture  into  the  wilderness,  tliere  to  Ibund  a  new  Slate,  and  establish 
tlie  very  state  of  thinjfs  they  left  heliind.  ^\'e  have  not  learned,  how- 
ever, that  either  Kelly  or  any  of  his  believers  have  ever  realized  any 
part  of  their  e.\|)ectations.  From  all  we  c;ia  learn,  we  believe  that  not 
a  man  lias  emigrated  to  the  Columbia  who  has  not  bitterly  rued  liis 
folly. 

"  Kcl/i/'s  promises  tecre,  indeed,  inagnijicent.  According  to  him,  this 
transmontane  Canaan  was  a  land  of  milk  and  honey,  full  of  navigable 
rivers,  and  pnicticable  in  every  direction.  The  timber  to|)s  ascended 
into  till!  veiv  heav>..M,  the  soil  yi('l(le<l  more  to  the  acre,  spontaneously, 
than  the  cultivated  fields  of  Belgium  and  Britain.  No  country  oilered 
such  facilities  for  ship-building;  how  easy  it  \ cuid  be  to  transpurt  the 
grain  of  Oregon,  in  vcss'ls  of  Oregon  timber,  to  India,  China  and 
Japan  !  What  facilities  the  cou"try  oilered  t  >  the  whale  fishery  and 
to  railroad  enterprise  !  The  Columbia  and  its  tributaries  were,  lite- 
rally, choked  with  salmon." 

The  American  missionaries  named  above,  •were  the 
hist  nie.i  in  the  workl,  who  shouhl  chiim  to  have  coni- 
mcnced  tlic  colonization  of.  Ore<i()n.  They  at  first,  actu- 
ally opposed  it.  ])aniel  Lee,  about  the  yciir  1837,  under 
pretence  of  ill  health,  retired,  for  a  season,  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  lie  left  the  healthful  valley  of  the 
AVallamet  for  the  arid  plains  of  tropical  islands.  AMiile 
there,  he  wrote  letters  to  his  friends  in  New  Enj^huid, 
giving-  them  absurd,  not  cafravogaHt  notions  of  Oregon, 
accounts  wholly  uninviting  to  emigration. 

Faithful  missionaries  of  the  cross  ne\er  flinch  from 
dutv.  Meanness  and  treacherv  aio  never  traits  in  their 
character.  Tliey  are  useful,  and  hel[)  to  kee])  in  pi'ogress 
imi)rovements  in  human  iiii'airs.  I'lieir  ways  are  above 
the  ways  of  mean  and  wicked  men  ;  and,  tliey  live  in 
advance  of  the  ames,  and  not  back  of  them,  and  can 
triumph  over  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  glory  in  tribu- 
lation. 

I  reo^ret  the  necessitv  of  administerino-  rebuke  to  the 
persons  i)articularized  on  tliese  ptiges.  It  is  just  I  should 
do  it,  aft(>r  twenty  years'  forbearance.  They  belong  to  a 
class  of  enemies  who  know  mv  manner  of  life,  and  mv 
sunerings ;  yet,  they  have  no  sympathy  for  mo ;  yet,  to 


I 


51 


their 


coiKliict  IS  to  be  attributed  the  loss  of  my  health, 
tlio  entire  l)erea^■emellt  of  ;i  beloved  family,  tlie  severest 
of  afHictioiis ;  and  the  perseeution  armed  with  a  thousand 
dangers,  followinj^'  me  up  and  ])iercing  me  thron<>h.  I 
say,  it  is  not  my  (hity,  sik'ntly,  (piietly,  vvitliout  a  decree 
of  tlie  resistanee  my  fe(l)le  nature  is  eapable  of  maknio-, 
to  submit  to  be  robbed  of  my  Oregon  achievement  by 
persons  liaving  neither  hearts*  to  i)lau,  nor  abilities  to 
execute  a  work  of  tliat  sort,  a  work,  1)enr>volent  in  pur- 
pose and  herculean  in  [)erformance,  and  replete  with  ben- 
efits to  mankind 


CIIAPTEli  X. 

PKRSECUTFn  BY  THF,   HUnSON  RAY  COMPANY ATTEMPTS  TO  BREAK 

UP    THE    FIHPT    SETTLEMENT    IN  OREGON CHARACTER  OF    CAPT. 

YOLNCJ HIS   TROUBLES    WITH    MCLAUGHLIN HO'vV    PERSUADED 

TO    BECOMr.    A    SETTLER. 

It  was  the  policy  of  the  friends  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company,  botii  on  this  and  the  other  side  of  the  conti- 
nent, for  the  reasons  assigned  on  the  14tli  page  of  this 
book,  to  under-estimatc  my  cai)abilities,  and  to  kee]) 
concealed  from  the  knowledge  of  my  countrymen,  my 
worthy  deeds  and  achievements.  In  the  event 'of  failing 
effectually  to  do  this  ;  then,  to  depict  me,  as  being  a 
humbug  and  an  impostor.  This  they  have  secretly  and 
cowardly  done;  and,  having  entirely 'destroyed  mv  use- 
fulness to  the  public,  the  last  sixteen  years,  in  "things 
appertaining  to  Oregon. 

To  give  a  farther  explanation  of  those  reasons.  — The 
Comi)any  had  in  its  employment,  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  for  nearly  thirty  years,  from  fifteen  hundred 
to  two  thousand  nu'n,  whose  business  it  was  to  hunt  and 
trade  with  the  Indians ;  to  speak  plainly,  to  cheat  and 
hill  Indians,  and  get  gain.     The  objects  of  my  enterprise 


m 


52 


in  the  same  territory,  was  to  colonize  and  to  humanize^ 
and  to  mva  life,  as  fiir  as  divinely  permitted  ;  to  subdue 
those  wild  regions,  and  make  them  appear  charmincj  like 
unto  the  fair  fields  of  Christendom.  Another  object,  one 
liiii,hly  ofi'eiisi\(^  to  the  company,  was  to  drive  the  heathen 
out  from  the  Modlv  land,  bevond  I)e  Tuca's  Sea.  The 
Header,  therefore,  will  percei\e  a  conflict  of  int(n-ests,  a 
tlneatened  ruin  to  the  company's  monopolies,  and  the 
final  o\erthrow  of  its  pow(U'. 

Doctor  John  ]McTiaughlin,  the  chief  officer  of  the 
coini)any  in  Orci^on,  was  kept  informed  of  my  movements 
in  the  States.  The  persecuting-  monster,  anticipatiui>'  my 
cominu;  to  the  place  of  his  abode,  was  ready,  with  sword 
in  hand,  to  cut  me  down  ;  and,  I  was  treated,  at  and 
after  my  arrival,  with  every  demonstration  of  inhuman- 
ity. The  lyini:!-  spirit  was  busily  engaged  in  spreading 
falsehood  and  cahunny  among  the  settlers  and  strangers, 
and  in  tm-ning  all  against  me.  Much  was  said,  to  have 
an  itiifavoiyihle  l)earing  upon  my  character ;  and,  perhaps, 
a  thing  or  two  done  to  have  -dfafdl  bearing  upon  my 
physical  nature.  It  was  in  part  to  break  up  the  settle- 
ment which  had  cost  me  ten  years  of  continued  sacrifice 
and  effort  to  forni.  The  conduct  of  McLaughlin,  then, 
seemed  brutid ;  and  I  know  not,  that,  since  he  has  ceased 
to  be  chief  factor,  it  has  been  Ijetter.  ]3oubtless,  he  has 
continued  to  oi)erate  with  the  friends  and  hirelings  of  the 
company,  devising  cunning  plans,  and  employing  to  the 
utmost,  his  prolific  powers  of  invention,  to  prejudice  the 
minds  of  the  public  men,  and  prevent  progress  in  my 
well-doing. 

Describing  things  in  general  terms,  is  not  enough  in 
my  case.  It  is  nec(^ssary  to  particularize.  I  will,  there- 
fore, relate  the  leading  particulars  of  the  treatment  expe- 
rienced at  and  after  my  arri\al  at  ^"ancouver,  when, 
worn  down,  at  the  end  of  a  perilous,  wearisome  and  lonely 
journey,  a  journey  of  nearly  six  thousand  miles,  mostly 
through  half-civili/ed  Mexico,  infested  with  robbers,  and 
wilderness  infested  with  bloody  hunters. 

From  the  landing  on  the  bank  of  the  Columbia,  to  the 


53 


fort,  I  saw  none  of  McLaughlin's  household,  none  of  his 
American  guests,  nor  other  persons,  save  my  conductor, 
(Ilondcau,)  and  him  (I'lanibois,)  on  ^\h()S('  arm  I  leaned 
for  support:  nor,  afterwards,  did  any  one  come  into  the 
room  where  I  was  tem[)orarily  seated,  but  McLaughlin, 
who,  after  a  few  minutes,  retired,  leaving  me  alone.  An 
hour  of  solitude  elapsed,  and  a  messenger  came  in,  say- 
ing it  would  be  incon\enient  to  accommodate  me  within 
the  fort;  but  comfortable  (quarters  would  be  afforded 
without.  I  was  then  led  to  a  habitation  outside  of  the 
stockade.     So  I  '•  suffered  outside  of  the  gate." 

It  was  a  cabin,  opening  on  the  back  side,  into  a  shed, 
which,  liaving  been  long  a  place  for  dressing  fish  and 
wild  game,  was  extremely  filthy.  The  black  mud  about 
the  doors,  back  and  in  front,  was  abundantly  mixed  with 
animal  putrescence.  There  was  one  good  thing  about  it. 
It  was  the  habitation  of  a  respectable  and  intelligent 
man,  a  tinner  by  trade,  who,  with  his  occasional  visitors 
from  other  parts,  furnislu'd  me  with  much  Aaluable  infor- 
mation, concerning  the  statistics  and  g(M)graphy  of  that 
country.  After  a  few  days,  I  was  conducted  to  the  hos- 
pital, which,  also,  was  an  unsuitable  place  for  my  al)od(% 
and  no  more  favorable  to  the  improvement  of  my  health, 
than  was  the  cabin ;  but  it  was  for  a  short  Hnie.  while 
the  purposes  suggested  on  the  14tli  page,  a  I  suppose, 
could  be  accomplished. 

Tiie  first  person,  after  the  i)hysician.  to  \isit  me  in  tliat 
prison-house,  Avas  Captain  lowing  Young,  the  veteran 
hunter,  and  the  conductor  of  my  party.  His  call  was  not 
so  much  to  sympathize,  (slander  had,  already,  measurably 
repressed  within  him  any  generous  feeling  of  that  kind,) 
as  to  spt\ak  of  jiersonal  abuse  just  received  from  Dr. 
^IcLaughlin  ;  and  of  cruel  treatment  which  he  and  the 
party  began  to  rec'.>i\e,  at  the  moment  of  their  arrival  in 
the  Valley  of  the  A\'allamet.  lie  remarked,  in  substance, 
that  McLaughlin  had  insulted  him,  to  provoke  to  a  quar- 
rel, and  to  get  an  excuse  for  hostilities ;  and  that  the  com- 
pany's farmers  on  the  AVallamet  had  peremi)tory  orders 
not  to  give  or  sell  supplies,  nor  afford  ([uarters  or  relief 


54 


to  any  of  the  party.  That,  U])  to  that  clay,  he  had  not 
h(>on  able  to  procure  from  thein,  al  any  price,  any  of  the 
necessaries  of  life.  lie  was  satisfied,  he  said,  of  its  beinj^f 
the  conij)any's  intentions  to  (hlAe  hiin  and  the  party,  if 
possible,  from  the  country,  and  [)revent  the  settlement, 
('apt.  Youno-  refers  to  his  troubles  with  ]\[cLaui>hlin  in  a 
statement  made,  in  1845,  to  liieut.  Slocum,  the  <;overn- 
ment  acent  to  Orey-on  that  \car.  In  that  statement  mv 
name  is  mentioned,  evidently  witli  mistaken  views  about 
me;  and  with  unfriendlv  feeliui's.  In  a  letter  addressed 
to  me,  not  lonjji;  after  my  release  from  the  hospital,  is  a 
full  demonstration  of  a  deadly  hate.  lie  was  one  to 
threaten  my  life  should  I  come  into  his  neighborhood. 
As  has  been  before  stated,  he  and  others  of  the  party 
were  made  to  believe  me  an  impostor,  and  a  defamer  of 
their  characters.  There  never  was,  1  affirm  it,  the  least 
personal  misunderstanding  bt^tween  me  and  Capt.  Young. 
His  inimical  feelings  were  wlioUy  owing  to  the  lying 
s})irit  going  out  from  Vancouver,  and  going  about  to  de- 
ceive those  who  were  most  likely  to  be  friends  and  to 
stand  by  me. 

I  first  became  acquainted  with  him  at  Puebia,  in  Cali- 
fornia. Afterwards,  the  accpuiintance  ])ecame  more  inti- 
mate at  the  place  of  my  encampment  ncuj.  r.[umcic>, 
where,  at  times,  I  listened  to  the  thrilling  accounts  of  his 
eventful  life.  He  seemed  bold  and  enterprising.  1  was 
jiersuadeil,  he  was  the  right  kind  of  a  person  to  accom- 
])any  me  to  Oregon;  and  he  was  '"pcrsnat/ar'  to  go.  He 
did  go  ;  and  in  despite  of  the  loudest  thunder  of  the  com- 
jiany's  power,  became  a  permanent  sc  ttler;  and  grt^atly,  a 
promoter  of  the  public  interest  in  that  t(>rrit:)ry.  llv  had 
been,  twelve  years,  a  hunter  about  tiie  wilds  of  Oregon, 
California  and  New  Mexico ;  and  had  lost,  perhaps,  some 
of  the  refinements  of  manners  once  possessed ;  and  had 
missed  of  some  of  those  moral  improvements  peculiar  to 
Christian  civilization.  Nevertheless,  he  was  instrumental, 
imder  an  overruling  Providence,  of  much  good  in  Oregon. 
He  placed  the  settlers,  and,  hideed,  the  whole  nation,  un- 
der obligations  to  him  for  his  uncommon  courage  and  de- 


55 


terniincd  pcrstneraiicc  in  maintaining  the  interests  of  the 
settlement.  Bnt  for  these  noble  traits  of  his  character, 
]McLau,i2.hlin  uould  have  at  once  driven  him  away ;  and 
the  infant  colony  would  lla^•e  been  broken  up.  He  was, 
in  otlun'  respects,  us(>ful.  In  18o(),  he  made  a  journey 
into  California,  bought  and  brought  back  several  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle,  and  a  largo  band  of  fine  blooded 
horses. 

Ewing  Young  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  a  true 
American.  II(^  died  sotne  years  ago,  on  his  estate  in  the 
A\'allamet  A^dley.  AVhile  in  Oregon,  he  was  greatly  per- 
secuted along  with  myself —  slandered  by  McLaughlin, 
and  rei)resented  to  our  government  agents,  as  belouging 
to  a  ])arty  of  marauders,  and  as  one  of  "  twelve  or  fifteen 
stragglers  ;  and  as  a  man  unworthy  the  notice  of  his  coun- 
tryman." His  statement  of  troubles  experienced  for  the 
country's  sake,  furnished  a  public  officer,  and  constituting 
an  item  of  some  importance  in  the  history  of  the  settle- 
ment of  Oregon,  remains  unprinted  in  the  State  ])epart- 
nient.*  O,  justice,  where  art  thou!  —  Gratitude,  where 
art  thou ! 

After  fifteen  or  twenty  davs  of  confinement,  the  door  of 
the  hosjntal  was  opened,  and  I  was  glad  enough  to  walk 
out  into  freer  si)ace,  and  breathe  a  purer  air.  Healtli 
had  not  been  a  whit  improved  by  the  incarceration. 
Debility  was  the  trouble  at  the  time  of  ffoiny:  in:  and 
debility,  at  the  time  of  coming  out. 

llelating  cAeiits  in  chronological  order,  I  will,  here, 
remark  concerning  my  baggage,  which  was  now  brought 
to  m(>,  after  having  been  retained  for  several  weeks  at 
the  house  of  t)ne  of  the  company's  farmers.  The  pack- 
ages AV(>re  open  ;  and  there  is  no  doubt,  judging  from 
facts  which  came  to  my  knowledge,  of  their  having  been 
overhauled,  and  their  contents  thoroughly  examined. 

Another  circumstance  reflecting  on  McLaughlin's  hu- 
manity, may  be  mentioned.     Xeither,  Avhile  in  the  hos- 


*  Some  further  rouiiirks  (■nnccriiiiiff  that  iisolul  pin;-,  arc  to  bo  found 
on  j).  7,  History  of  the  Coloniziition  of  Oregon  —  a  paniplilet  attached 
to  this  book. 


5G 


I)ital,  nor  out  of  it,  nor,  at  any  time  durinf»'  the  six 
months'  sojourn  at  Vancouver,  did  that  man  care,  so 
mucli  as  once,  to  visit  n;e ;  or.  in  a  single  instance,  to 
permit  his  American  guests  who  Avere,  sometimes  within 
a  iew  rods  of  my  sick  bed,  to  come,  even  when  ap^jarently 
suffering  the  pangs  of  death,  to  come  and  administer  com- 
fort; or  make  to  me  a  show  of  generous  sympathy.  I 
had  not  the  happiness,  even  for  once,  of  behokling  the 
faces  of  the  two  naturahsts  wlio  were  tlie  recii)ients  of 
the  company's  civilities  and  liberal  liospitality,  and  were 
receiving  their  "  good  things,"  while,  mys(>lf.  "evil  things." 
One  of  them  had  resided  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
for  many  }  ears,  within  a  mile  of  my  place  of  abode,  and 
had  read  my  books,  seen  my  works,  and  learnt,  more 
or  less,  about  the  spirit  which  moved  me.  He  was  not 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  the  only  path  leading  to  the 
country  of  pretty  Jfowers  west  of  the  llocky  Mountains 
had  been  opened,  wholly,  at  my  expense ;  and  his  journey 
thither,  had  been  made  easy  and  pleasurable  through  my 
means. 

Some  of  the  party,  after  receiving  information  of  my 
discharge  from  the  hospital,  made  me  several  visits.  The 
first  were  friendly.  One  was  to  invite  to  the  Falls  of  the 
Wallamet,  to  survey  and  lot  out  the  land  as  I  had  pro- 
mised to  do  ;  and  to  lay  out  a  city  according  to  a  plan 
prepared  before  leaving  tho  States.  A  day  for  that  ser- 
vice, two  or  three  weeks  oft',  was  appointed ;  but,  prior 
to  its  coming,  other  visits  were  made  of  an  unfriendly 
nature  —  chiefly,  I  thought,  to  alarm  my  fears ;  and  to 
discourage  and  vex  me.  Also,  two  letters  were  received 
from  the  party,  threatening  my  life,  if  seen  on  the  Walla- 
met. All  things  considered,  1  thought  it  prudi  nt  to  keep 
from  that  quarter.  Xotwitstanding  the  threatening  power 
of  the  euemy,  and  tho  circumstances  of  peril  surround- 
ing me,  I  was,  daily,  when  strength  enabled  me  to  walk, 
making  explorations ;  and  was  much  about  the  woods. 

Seeing  that  falsi^hood  was  mnking  such  sad  work  Avith 
my  character ;  and,  that  calumny  and  mockery  were  the 
orders  of  the  day,  I  addressed  to  John  McLaughlin,  Esq. 


57 


a  manifesto,  prcpnrcd,  of  course,  with  a  focblc  hand,  dc- 
( hiring  myself  not  to  be  a  public  a<5ent  acting  by  author- 
ity from  the  United  States,  as  represented  at  Vancouver ; 
but,  to  be  a  private  and  humble  citi/en  of  a  great  nation, 
a  freeborn  son  of  American  Indc[)endence  —  moved  by 
the  spirit  of  freedom,  and  animated  with  the  hope  of 
being  useful  among  my  fellow-men. 

To  increase  uncomfortables  about  me,  a  young  man, 
half  Indian,  suffering  a  i)ulmonary  disease,  and  fast  near- 
ing  the  spirit  world,  (in  less  than  six  Meeeks  from  that 
time,  was  in  it,)  was  turned  into  my  cabin  to  be  a  com- 
panion. I  was  glad  of  it.  It  seemed  })rovidential ;  for, 
he  was  intelligent,  and  had  become  pious ;  and  had  a  mind 
well  stored  with  knowledge  of  men  and  things,  as  they 
were,  in  that  region.  He  had  been  a  clerk  to  the  phy- 
sician, and  employed  in  compounding  medicines  —  had 
made  lots  of  pills  —  made  t  wo  kinds,  black  and  white. 
The  former  were  for  sick  Indians,  and  were  fatal  in 
their  effects.  This  dying  man,  whose  stories  I  believed 
to  be  truthful,  revealed  to  me  astonishing  secrets  be- 
longing to  the  company's  inhuman  policy  towards  the 
Indians. 

In  the  latter  part  of  November,  I  requested  a  passage 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands  in  one  of  the  company's  vessels, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Lambert ;  but  was  refused.  I  had 
means  to  pay  the  fare,  having  brought  from  California  a 
valuable  mule  and  several  fine  horses.  McLaughlin  was 
cunning  about  it.  He  undoubtedly  knew  concerning  ar- 
rangements made,  when  at  Monterey,  with  Capt.  Thomp- 
son and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Spear,  for  them  to  come,  after 
notice  should  be  given,  with  a  vessel,  and  bring  from 
the  islands  supplies  for  the  settlement,  and  commence 
in  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  territory.  Though  the 
fact,  itself,  might  not  be  known  to  him,  my  having  stated 
it  was  known.  The  party  had  spoken  of  it;  and  slander 
had  noised  it  about.  Now,  it  is  rationally  conjectured, 
that  he  supposed  the  objects  of  the  voyage  were  to  basten 
the  coming  of  the  vessel.  He  may,  also,  have  supposed, 
I  should  return  back  with  a  recruit  of  settlers,  and  other 
8 


o8 


means  for  accomplishing^  the  objects  of  my  coming  to  that 
country.  ^Misrepresentations  could  effect  more,  at  tlic 
islands,  in  breaking  up  plans  for  advancing  the  interests 
of  my  colony,  in  my  absence,  than  presence. 

The  middle  of  December,  I  was  suddenly  reduced  to 
prostration  of  strength,  and  to  sickness.  For  twenty-four 
hours,  I  continued  to  vomit,  and  to  have  a  severe  relax  of 
the  bowels.  My  food,  to  all  appearances,  had  been  whole- 
some ;  and  I  temperately  partook  of  such  as  was  set  before 
me,  and  knew  of  no  particular  exposure  of  health  other 
than  wliat  would  arise  from  tlie  atmospheric  impurities 
about  the  cabin.  I  continued  sick  and  feeble,  twelve 
days ;  at  times,  vomiting,  and  exercised  with  bodily  pains. 
The  physician,  often  sent  for,  declined  to  come;  but, 
sent  an  abundance  of  pills  and  powders  which  were  swal- 
lowed down.  No  visit  was  made  me  by  any  person  inside 
of  the  fort,  excepting  my  kind  friend,  Cyrus  Shepard,  a 
member  of  the  missionary  family. 

A  silver  dollar  was  sent  to  the  store-house  for  necessa- 
ries. The  articles,  called  for,  were  refused,  under  pre- 
tence that  the  money  was  not  genuine.  The  dollar  was 
current,  and  tlie  metal  pure. 

About  the  middle  of  February,  I  went  into  the  fort  to 
inquire  after  an  acquaintance  who  had  just  come  from 
the  upper  parts  of  the  Columbia ;  and  was  met  by  Mc- 
Laughlin himself,  and  told  that  the  person  whom  I  wish- 
ed to  see  was  engaged.  The  door  was  then  insultingly 
closed  upon  me.  The  next  day,  the  acquaintance  with  a 
countenance  sadly  changed  from  former  days,  came  into 
my  cabin,  and  strode  across  the  floor.  Sternly  looking 
towards  me,  he  uttered  these  words,  viz.,  "  AVell,  Kelley, 
how  did  you  get  here?"  After  making  some  abusive 
remarks,  he  walked  out.  His  only  object  seemed  to  be 
to  afflict,  and  to  fill  my  soul  with  sorrow. 

This  man  received  from  me  his  first  impressions  of 
Oregon,  and  the  spirit  of  enterprise  which  led  him  into 
that  territory.  In  the  States,  he  enrolled  his  name  in  my 
emigration  books,  and  was  with  me ;  but,  at  Vancouver, 
he  joined  my  enemies,  and  was  against  me. 


59 


4 


These  were  the  acts  and  influences  of  McLaughlin. 
So  lie  persecuted  me,  a  stranger,  sitting  and  sorrowing 
"  in  solitary  places  "  in  a  strange  land. 

^^'hen  about  to  leave  Oregon,  the  chief  factor  of  the 
company  presented  mc  with  a  draft  of  seven  pounds 
sterling,  payable  at  the  Sandwich  Islands.  A  part,  how- 
ever, was  paid  at  ^'ancouver,  in  articles  of  comfort.  This 
was  kind,  and  I  felt  grateful  for  it. 

All  which  a[»i)eared  to  others,  generou.?  hospitality  in 
that  man,  did  not  clearly  appear  so  to  me,  though  I  have 
ever  had  a  respectful  regard  for  him. 

I  will  take  this  opportunity  to  correct  an  error,  in  my 
account  of  Oregon,  published  soon  after  my  return  home. 
Too  liberal  credit  was  given  him,  in  that  publication,  for 
civility  and  kindness.  I  have  an  excuse,  a  plausible  one, 
at  least,  for  giving  it.  At  the  time  of  preparing  the 
account,  cruelties  practised  by  him  and  his  friends,  which, 
more  than  all  other  things,  had  shattered  my  nervous 
system,  and  broken  up  an  iron  constitution,  had,  to  a  sad 
extent,  enfeebled  the  mind.  Furthermore,  almost  annihi- 
lation was  threatened  me ;  and  I  could  see  no  friend 
coming  to  save  me  from  the  wrathful  vengeance  of  the 
company's  hirelings,  gathering  together  for  my  utter 
destruction.  Fear  came  upon  me ;  therefore,  in  reference 
to  personal  treatment,  I  carefully  omitted  what  might  be 
offensive,  substituting  what  was  true  only  of  his  conduct 
towards  other  ^Vmericans.  I  acknowledge  the  sin.  It 
was  the  first,  and  shall  be  the  last  of  the  kind  to  be  put 
to  my  account. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1835, 1  embarked  on  board  the 
company's  brig  Dryade,  for  the  Sandwich  Islands.  A 
berth  in  the  cabin  was  to  be  given  me,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river ;  but,  Avhen  the  time  came,  it  was  refused. 
However,  I  was  thankful  for  one,  any  where.  That  more 
comfortable  place  in  the  vessel  was  occupied,  while  de- 
scending the  river,  by  three  of  the  company's  sea  cap- 
tains, and  a  young  Indian  female,  not  then  in  her  teens. 
One  of  the  captains  and  the  Indian  girl  landed  at  Astoria, 
then  called  Fort   George.     While  the  cabin  was  thus 


60 


being  occupied,  1  was  very  content  to  be  in  tlie  steernji^e  ; 
to  be,  as  far  as  possible,  one  side  of  a  beastly  debauebery, 
never  again,  I  could  liope,  to  bo  practised,  or  to  find  its 
parallel  upon  tbe  pure  waters  of  tbe  (.'olunibia. 

The  vessel,  on  tbe  same  dny  of  setting  sail,  anchored 
a  little  below  Wappato  Island,  and  nearly  oj)posite 
Wycth's  establishment.  When  the  shade  of  niglit  had 
come  on,  there  being  no  moon,  and  but  the  dim  light  of 
the  star-bespangled  heavens,  a  noise,  as  of  a  gang  of 
ruffians,  was  heard  on  sbore.  Lupiiring  to  know  the 
cause,  I  was  told  that  so  ic  of  the  men  had  come  from 
the  Wallamet  to  take  me  from  the  vessel,  and  abuse  me. 
Capt.  AVyeth  was  providentially  on  board,  then  in  the 
cabin.  I  knew  he  was  there,  tliough  I  saw  nothing  of 
him.  His  presence,  or  his  interposing  humanity,  may 
have  given  a  check  to  their  proceedings.  'I'his  is  all  I 
know  of  that  occurrence.  I  made  but  few  inquiries,  and 
cared  but  little  about  it. 

Head  winds  retarded  for  several  days  the  descent  of 
the  vessel  to  the  ocean ;  which  circumstance  gave  me  an 
opportunity  to  make  particular  examinations  of  the  river, 
and  to  collect  materials  for  a  correct  map  of  the  same.  It, 
also,  gave  the  beastly  captains  an  opportunity  to  find  out 
something  more  than  they  had  previously  known  of  him 
whom  thev  had  on  board,  and  Avere,  doubtless,  instructed 
to  mock.  I  have  reason  to  suppose,  they  had  received 
orders,  brutally  to  abuse  their  passenger ;  hoping  the 
final  effect  of  all  would  be  distraction  or  death.  But 
they  were  greatly  mistaken  in  the  man.  One  after 
another  made  attacks  upon  him  ;  but,  in  every  instance, 
they  were  glad  to  retreat ;  and  were,  finally,  ashamed  of 
the  service,  and  of  him  who  had  appointed  them  to  it. 

Oppression  and  sufferings  compose  the  subject  of  this 
chapter ;  or  I  would  stop,  awhile,  the  narrative,  and,  in 
vindication  of  self,  speak  of  the  cock  upon  his  own  dung- 
hill, —  of  triumphs,  and  of  the  vanquished  enemy.  (See 
paper  marked  A.,  at  the  end  of  this  book.) 

I  was  terribly  sea-sick  through  the  voyage.  The  food 
furnished  me  was  scanty  and  unsavory ;  and  at  no  time 


01 


"Nvas  it  such  as  1  could  relish.  Jh-cakfasts  consisted, 
of'toiitimcs,  of  lea  made  in  an  iron  toa-kottlc,  which  uas 
sweetened  with  molasses,  and  drank  from  a  horrowed  tin 
cup ;  of  coarse  ship-hread,  and  cold  boiled  beef,  or 
stur*;eon,  served  in  a  small  tub  as  dirty,  inside  and  out, 
as  the  floor  upon  which  the  whole  was  placed.  Dinners 
generally  consisted  of  boiled  salt  beef,  cold,  lean,  and 
hard  ;  and  of  coarse  bread,  with,  sometimes,  duff,  a  pud- 
ding composed  of  Hour  and  mashed  potatoes,  half-baked 
and  clammy,  —  all  without  jdatc,  kniie,  or  fork. 

The  sailors,  at  times,  spat  upon  my  bed  and  wearing 
apparel ;  and,  in  divers  ways,  injured  or  destroyed  the 
cxjjosed  articles  of  my  effects. 

liate,  one  stormy  night,  I  was  alarmed  with  the  noise 
of  water  pouring  into  the  steerage  by  the  side  of  my 
berth.  The  tarpaulin  over  the  hatchway,  settling  in  the 
middle,  filled  with  rain,  and  then  sinking,  (probably 
forced  down,)  on  one  side,  discharged  a  bucket  or  more 
of  water  upon  a  trunk  and  clothes  lying  on  it. 

To  put  the  climax  to  these  cruelties,  and  to  render 
my  situation  in  the  highest  degre(^  distressing,  after  I 
was  found  retired  to  rest,  two  or  three  sailors,  besides 
the  two  whose  berth  was  in  the  steerage,  were  in  the 
practice  of  coming  in,  each  with  a  pipe  in  his  mouth, 
smoking  at  both  ends.  The  wicks  of  the  lamps  were 
then  raised  high,  the  scuttle-door  brought  down,  and  the 
room,  which  was  small,  ke[)t  close.  These  were  suffo- 
cating times.  I'hc  condition  of  one  who  never  used  a 
particle  of  tobacco,  and  was  reduced  to  great  physical 
debility,  is  hardly  conceivable  by  any,  but  the  sufferer 
himself.  This  operation,  often  repeated,  with  others 
tending  to  enfeeble  the  body,  contributed  much,  I  think, 
in  causing  the  present  morbid  state  of  the  optic  nerves. 

Inquiries  w(>re  often  made  of  the  captain,  —  Why  all 
this  abused  He,  as  often,  implied  in  his  answers,  that 
he  Avas  acting  in  conformity  to  orders.  I  solemnly  affirm 
that  once,  when  near  the  time  of  our  reparation,  and  in 
the  way  of  excusing  his  conduct,  he  replied  in  these 
words,  —  "I  must  obey  orders." 


G2 


I  am  not  ill'tlisposrd  towards  ^[r.  Mcl.aup;hlin,  or  any 
of  his  friends  ;  luive  said  nothing;  in  malice ;  have  said 
nothing?  to  injure  the  feelin«;s,  character,  or  fortune  of 
any  of  them ;  nothing  which  reason,  religion,  and  my 
conscience  do  not  well  ai)provc. 


CIIAPTEll  XL 

LIEUTENANTS     SLOCUM    AND     HOWISON     DECFIVED     AND     DUPED 

CONDUCT    OF     GREENHOW,     LIBRARIAN    TC     THE     STATE    DEPART- 


MENT,   U.   S. 


THE    nation's    EXCHANGE. 


Very  seldom  has  the  author  of  any  book,  or  public 
document,  identified  my  name  with  the  first  settlement 
of  Oregon.  The  public  agents,  the  late  Lieutenants  Slo- 
cum  and  Howison,  kept  silent,  although  they  had  seen 
and  conversed  with  the  first  settlers.  The  former  was 
told,  in  1835,  by  the  settlers  themselves,  that  H.  J. 
Kelley  "  persuaded  "  them  to  settle  in  that  territory,  and 
conducted  them  thither.  He  was  furnished  with  a  written 
statement  to  that  effect,  which  he  evidently  intended  to 
publish.  The  paper  was  marked  E,  and  referred  to  as 
composing  a  part  of  the  appendix  to  his  report  to  the 
government.  But  it  was  not  printed  ;  and  he  neglected 
to  make  any  allusion  to  my  name,  on  account,  doubtless, 
of  the  very  same  influence  at  Washington,  which,  for  so 
many  years,  has  been  working  against  me. 

Mr.  Slocum,  after  his  return  from  Oregon,  came  to 
Boston,  and  put  up  at  the  Tremont  House,  where,  agree- 
able to  his  request,  I  called  upon  him.  He  stated,  that  he 
had  found  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers  my  book,  called 
"  The  Manual  of  the  Oregon  Expedition,"  a  book  devel- 
oping the  plan  of  the  colonization  of  that  country.  He 
expressed  himself  satisfied  that  the  settlement  was  com- 


03 


mcnccd  tliroufjfh  my  instrumentality;  and  proposed  to 
niontion  the  fact  in  his  public  report. 

Here  is  u  denioustrution,  in  part,  ef  what  I  have  so 
often  stated ;  that,  to  accomplish  some  evil  device  ujion 
me,  and  to  carry  out  some  plan  of  intriji;ue  upon  our 
country,  unprincipled  and  treacherous  mow  have  caused 
me  to  he  made  the  victim  of  all  books  and  reports  con- 
cerning Oregon ;  my  very  name  to  be  suppressed  in  them ; 
even  some  of  the  material  vouchers  to  my  statements  to 
Congress  to  be  ahstrncted  from  the  tiles  of  the  committees, 
or,  otherwise,  to  be  taken  from  their  possession  ;  and  my 
clipracter  to  be  aspersed  and  defamed  in  periodicals  and 
newspapers,  and  in  all  the  variety  of  ways  which  sland(^r 
is  wont  to  do  in  effecting  its  purposes ;  and  they  would 
cause  a  bloody  extinguishment  of  life  itself,  if  that  could 
be  done  without  incurring  the  imputation  of  right-out 
murder. 

The  report  of  Lieut.  Ilowison  to  the  commander  of  the 
Pacific  squadron,  Feb.  1,  1847,  while  it  is  profoundly 
silenU  as  to  the  founder  of  the  first  establishments  in 
Oi'^p- ,/i,  makes  the  following  declarations,  namely  :  "  The 
American  missionaries  were  the  first  persons  to  attempt 
any  establishment  in  Oregon,  independent  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company."  "  A  few  American  hunters,  not  number- 
ing over  twelve  or  fifteen,"  (the  number  of  persons  in  my 
])arty  from  California,  including  myself,)  "  straggled  into 
the  country  about  the  same  time."  (See  Report,  p.  14.) 
It  Avould  have  had  more  the  appearance  of  truth  to  have 
chronicled,  that  a  few  American  hunters,  skilful  laborers, 
enlisted  hi/  Hall  J.  Kelletj,  came  into  the  country  to  finish 
the  foundation  of  the  Nation's  Exchakge,  —  a  building 
which  that  engineer  had  planned  and  commenced,  —  a 
structure  to  be  of  stupendous  magnitude,  whose   lofty 


dome,   ere 


long. 


refiectinir   the  effuliient  liurht  beaminu; 


from  the  highest  heavens,  will  be  seen  from  the  darkest 
and  most  distant  parts  of  the  earth. 

Howison,  very  likely,  was  deceived  and  led  into  errors 
by  McLaughlin  and  the  Lees ;  the  one  who  would  have 
Kelley  deeply  buried  in  oblivion ;  and  the  others  would 


64 


rob  him  of  plumes  which  they  themselves  had  never 
earned,  and  were  incapable  of  making. 

My  opinion  is,  that  those  two  lieutenants  were  worthy 
men,  lionesf  and  patriotic;  and  that  the  injustice  done 
me,  in  their  reports,  is  to  be  attributed  to  misrepresenta- 
tions made  to  them,  on  both  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic 
sliores,  by  tue  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  those,  our 
own  countrymen,  who,  in  some  way  or  other,  had  been 
induced  to  promote  the  special  interests  of  that  company. 

The  History  of  the  Northwest  Coast  of  North  America, 
by  liobert  Greenhow,  translator  and  librarian  to  the  state 
department,  was  printed  by  order  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  expectation  of  its  being  a  plain 
and  candid  memoir.  In  my  apprehension,  it  is  not  such ; 
is  neither  plain  nor  candid  ;  but,  as  far  as  the  book  treats 
concerning  the  colonization  of  that  coast,  and  the  Ameri- 
can claims,  as  it  was  previous  to  1846,  to  the  Pacific 
shore  north  of  the  49th  parallel,  it  is  delusive;  and  is 
calculated  to  deceive  on  certain  subjects  of  great  private 
and  national  interests,  both  the  people  and  government 
of  the  United  States ;  and  artfully  adds,  it  seems  to  me, 
quantity  and  variety  to  the  tissue  of  misrepresentations, 
contrived  at  Vancouver. 

I  find  myself  abused,  on  account  )f  fidelity  to  my 
countrymen,  throughout  the  book ;  beginning  on  the 
map  prefixed  to  the  title-page.  The  medal,  of  Avhich 
impressions  are  there  givon,  was  handed  by  me  to  the 
Hon.  Caleb  Cushing,  to  be  deposited  in  the  libnivy  of 
Congress.  Credit,  therefore,  should  have  been  given  to 
Kelley,  and  not  to  Cushing. 

I  put  into  the  hands  of  the  late  Hon.  L.  F.  Linn, 
chairm  .a  of  the  select  comn<ittee  on  the  territor  of 
Oi-'^oori,  in  the  years  i838  and  1839,  a  mass  of  docu- 
ments' and  paperSj  the  same  which  are  named  in  the 
schedule  at  the  end  of  my  History  of  tiie  Colonization 
of  Oregon.  They  were  loaned,  as  I  have  good  reason  to 
believe,  by  that  worthy  senator,  to  Mr.  Greenhow,  who 
could  not  safely  pass  them  by  in  siience.  He  made  use, 
iu  part,  of  the  information,  —  careful,  however,  to  make 


r 


n: 


sucli  use  a'^  inifiht  r~:rct  the  wislic-s  of  Eritisli  suLjccts. 
It  will  le  u'collccted,  tlie  book  wtis  reprinted  in  I'ater- 
iioster  Ivow,  London.  In  reference  to  the  evidences  of 
the  land  pur(lia>.es  on  (^niidra's  Island,  included  among 
tlu^  [)apers  in  his  posse>.>ion,  he  remarks  on  page  r22, — 
"  Thar  tin.'  transartions  here  described,  between  Kcndrick 
and  the  savage  chiefs,  did  really  take  place,  there  is  no 
reason  to  doul)t :  it  is,  how(>Aer,  scarccJi/  jirohahle  that 
t/ie  lyaJidit^  of  t lie  jiHrcJniscs  will  ever  be  recognised  by  the 
civili/.ed  nation  whi(  h  may  hen  after  possess  the  country 
adjacent  to  Nootka  Sound."  Wiis  this  candid  ?  Did  ho 
gi\c  a  reason  whv  tliev  sliould  not  be  recoffuist'd  ?  lie 
may  have  ])resumed  too  much  on  the  stupidity  of  the 
Xh'^n  advocate  of  the  claimants  ;  and  thought,  that,  with  a 
single^  {^ftbrt  of  his  pen,  ho  could  strip  the  ])urchases  of 
all  their  worth  ;  and,  with  a  single  ol)lique  thrust,  could 
kill  a  clain.  demonstrated  by  numerous  indubitable  facts, 
to  be  reasoTiable  and  just,  and  of  great  value,  a  claim*  of 
widows  and  ori)hans. 

"NVhcni  at  Washington,  in  IP  t8, 1  inquired  of  Greenhow 
for  som(>  of  those  [)apers ;  particularly,  an  advertisement 
printed  in  London.  17f^5.  in  four  different  languages.  I 
■\vas  curious  to  regain  possession  of  that  ancient  docu- 
ment, lie  denied  knowing  where  it  was.  I,  also,  Avished 
to  know  about  the  medal.  That,  he  said,  was  in  the 
patent-ofHce.  It  was  not  in  the  ])atent-office,  nor  had  it 
been  thee.  I  next  called  at  the  library  which  was  under 
his  care,  to  seeCapt.  Ingraham's  journals,  having  obtained 
permission  to  examine  them,  with  the  intention  of  copy- 
ing some  statements  relative  to  Kendnck's  vovage  and 
the  land  purchases.  At  tirst,  Greenhow  being  absent, 
the  second  librarian  said  th(^  journals  a])iieared  to  be 
missing;  but  he  would  make  further  search.  After  call- 
ing several  times,  some  days  intervening  the  calls,  and 
finding  they  had  not  been  returned  to   the  archives,  I 


ii.l 


*  Tliis  claim  is  powerfully  opposed  by  the  friends  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company. 

9 


()(i 


addressed  a  note  to  the  Sccretaiv  of  State,  and  tlien,  two 
or  tlirce  weeks  after  my  first  iiuiuiries,  those  journals, 
full  of  valuable  information  concerning  the  claim,  Averc 
forthcoming. 

My  name  (a  part  only)  occurs  but  once  in  the  history 
by  (jreenhow;  although  the  things  which  I  had  done 
and  suffered  for  On^gon  were  known  to  that  author ;  and 
my  memoir,  embraced  in  the  congressional  document, 
(Kep.  No.  101,  House  of  Representatives,  1839.)  showing 
what  led  to  the  settlement  of  that  territory,  was  before 
him,  showing  that  Hall  J.  Kellc.tj,  without  even  a 
single  coadjutor  by  his  side,  to  assist,  planted  the  germ 
of  empire  on  the  Pacific  shores ;  an  event  sufiiciently 
remarkable  to  have  attracted  his  attention,  and  to  have 
entitled  me  to  some  more  respect  than  he  seemed  dis- 
posed to  pay  me. 

On  the  14th  page  he  briefiy  speaks  of  me,  omitting,  as 
is  the  policy  and  uniform  practice  of  my  enemies,  a  ])art 
of  my  name;  and  misspelling  the  other  part.  The  Chris- 
tian names  of  all  other  ])er.sons,  and  they  are  numerous, 
introduced  into  the  book,  even  the  longest  of  ^Spanish 
names,  requiring  two  or  three  long  breaths  to  utter,  are 
remembered  and  correctly  written ;  but,  strange  as  it  is, 
the  short  Hall  /.,  printed  with  fair  type,  in  a  multipli- 
city of  papers  which  were  before  his  eyes,  was  unseen, 
and  the  Kellct/  so  indistinctly  recollected,  as  to  be  mis- 
s])elt.  In  Lee's  book  it  is  Kclljj,  and  so  in  Grcenhow's ; 
which  thing  indicates  their  having  concerted  what  to 
say. 

After  marking  my  name  as  nothing  Avorth,  he  throws 
to  me  a  sugar-plum,  calls  me  patriotic ;  and  then,  as  if 
w^holly  to  turn  the  mind  from  thoughts  of  Kelley,  sud- 
denly, with  a  sort  of  admiration,  turns  to  the  name  and 
exploits  of  Capt.  Wyeth,  whom  he  makes  the  hero  of  the 
remaind  r  of  his  book.  In  dc^scribing  (p.  191)  the  expe- 
ditions of  Wyeth  and  15onneville,  he  slips  meanly  by  the 
origin  of  those  enterprises,  and  keeps  dark  concerning 
him  who  caused  them. 

With  great  injustice  to  me,  (p.  199,)  he  says,  —  "The 


II 


()7 


first  emigrations  from  the  United  States,  for  the  pur])ose 
of  settlement,  Avitliout  any  s[)ecial  commercial  views, 
apiiear  to  have  been  made  in  1832."  There  is  a  sentence 
in  Howison's  report,  of  similar  meaning.  The  style  of 
this  and  that  are  so  similar,  I  should  think  one  pen 
AvroU"  them  both.  However,  it  matters  not  who  writes, 
if  the  truth  is  told. 

Two  persons,  only,  that  year,  reached  Oregon  for  the 
])nrpose  of  settlement.  Others  leaving  New  England  in 
their  company,  were  frightened  by  decei^'ing  hunters  in 
the  ser^■ice  of  some  fur  com])any,  and  turned  back  before 
far  ascending  the  eastern  slope  of  the  llocky  Moinitains. 
John  liall,  Esq.  and  Mr.  Calvin  Tibbets,  men  of  principle 
and  inflexible  integrity,  were  induced  to  emigrate  by  me. 
They  tra^^Ued  with  Wyeth  in  Capt.  Sublette's  party ;  but 
had  no  connection  in  the  business  of  any  one  whose  views 
were  commercial,  and  adverse  to  colonization.  These  facts 
Avere  kno^^  n  to  Greenhow,  at  the  time  of  writing  the 
book ;  and  he  should  not  have  been  so  careless  of  my 
character,  as  not  to  have  mentioned  them. 

He  further  says,  "  Three  }  ears  afterwards,  a  small 
colony  of  Americans  was  established  on  the  AVallamet, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Jason  Lee  and  other  Methodist 
clergymen."  This  statement  is  false;  and  was  made  to 
award  the  credit  of  the  "first  establishment"  in  that 
country  to  the  "  American  missionaries,"  There  were 
no  persons  with  the  Meiliodist  clergymen  to  compose  a 
colony.  Of  course,  no  colony  -was  estaldished  under  their 
direction.  Two  years  afterwaixls,  not  three,  a  colony  of 
Americans  was  estaldished  on  the  A\"allamet,  includiuir 
the  missionaries,  by  the  "  patriotic  American,"  whose 
naiTK^  is  so  artfully  and  cruelly  kept  out  of  sight  in 
Greenhow's  statements. 

His  silence  concerning  me  is  not  a  matter  of  which  I 
w  ould  complain,  farther  than  it  has  a  hard  bearing  upon 
my  character  and  fortune.  It  lias  had  a  terrible  bearing 
upon  both. 

He  might,  with  consistency,  ha^e  intersperscxl  his  book 
with  things  relative  to  my  enterprise  and  adMnturcs,  — 


68 


spoken  of  ])liilaiithropic  projects  and  niii^lity  achieve- 
ments,—  of  hardsliips,  perils,  and  "  liaiv-brcadtli  escapes," 
—  and  of  remarkable  interi)osin<ij  providences  of  God.  I 
have  no  vanity  to  be  gratified  in  his  doing  it ;  but  justice 
demanded  it  to  be  done. 

Enough,  I  trust,  has  been  said  to  satisfy  the  reasonable 
reader,  that  Greenhow  belongs  to  the  troops  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  Com])any,  marshalled  and  drilled  for  the 
special  service  of  destroying  me,  and  of  preventing  the 
government  recognition  of  the  claim  of  some  of  our  citi- 
zens to  lands  now  occupied  and  coveted  by  that  com- 
pany. 

During  the  wearisome  years,  Avlien  hardships  had 
broken  me  down,  and  sickness  had  rendered  me  incapa- 
ble of  sc^lf-defence,  my  enemies  Avere  bold  and  unmerciful. 
At  times  they  almost  overwhelmed  me  Avith  troubles ; 
they  persecuted  lugh  unto  death. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


RKFLECTIONS    UPOX    THE    CONDUCT    OF    OPPOSERS    OF    THE  OREGON 

ENTEUPKISK ITS    RESULTS    BENEFICIAL    TO    MANKIND OBJECTS 

OF   THE   author's  JOURNEY  THROUOH  MEXICO CIVILIZATION  OF 

INDIANS RAILROAD    FROM    THE   VALLEY  OF  THE   MISSISSIPPI  TO 

THE    SHORES    OF    THE     PACIFIC RELATIVE     TO    THE     AUTHOR's 

CLAIM    ON     MEXICO    FOR    INDEMNITY  THE    AUTHOR    AFFLICTED 

WITH   AN  AFFECTION  OF   THE    OPTIC   NERVES  RAILROAD   ACROSS 

THE    ISTHMUS  TO  PANAMA RAILROAD   FROM  VERA  CRUZ  TO  THE 

CITY     OF     MEXICO SLANDEKOUS    IMPUTATIONS  VINDICATION 

OF     THE     author's     CHARACTER     AND     RIGHTS     TO     UE     FURTHER 
ATTEMPTED  —  GREAT  TRIIlULATiONS. 


The  Oregon  enterprise  was  one  of  my  own  getting  up 
and  carrvinii'  throujjh.  The  wise  confessed  it  to  be  mag- 
nificent  and  benevolent.  The  best  part  of  my  life  was 
exclusively  devoted  to  it ;  and  the  whole  of  my  substance 


G9 


and  earthly  comforts  were  sacrificed  to  consimimate  its 
accoini)li.sluneiit ;  and,  it  resulted,  as  at  its  cuiice])tiun  I 
supi)ose(l  it  would,  in  making  Oregon  and  California  the 
abode  of  ci\  ilization  ;  and  both,  integral  parts  of  the 
Ihiited  States'  domain :  and  in  extending  more  widely  the 
blessings  of  Christianitv. 

To  the  unthinking,  it  doubtless  appears  strange,  that 
an  enterjjrise,  pregnant  with  benefits  to  the  world,  should 
be  opposed  ;  yet,  to  oppose  was  as  natural  as  for  sparks 
to  fly  upward,  or  for  \  icious  men  to  do  evil.  On  account 
of  that  vmdertaking  and  the  advancement  of  its  objects, 
I  have  been  afflicted.  They  have  persecuted  me  without 
cause. 

I  am  aware  of  the  fact,  —  the  word  of  Truth,  and  of  per- 
sonal observation  have  strongly  imj)rcssed  it  upon  my 
mind,  that  those  who  would  live  godly  lives,  and  lead  in 
great  and  purely  philanthropic  enteri)rises,  are  as  certain 
to  be  vexed  and  persecuted,  as  co\etous  and  ambitious 
men,  whose  only  pursuits  are  the  acquisition  of  property 
and  worldly  honors,  are  ever  to  be  actuated  by  feelings  of 
jealousy  or  revenge.  No  man  liveth,  loving  his  neighbor 
as  himself,  and  faithfully  discharging  duties,  ^vithout  tii- 
als  of  patience,  without  troubles  and  tribulations.  From 
the  day  my  plan  to  colonize  Oregon  was  first  ])ublicly 
promulgated,  to  the  present,  I  have  been  nuuh.'  gr(\atly  to 
suffer  —  more,  when  attempting  to  conduct  emigrants  to 
that  territory,  than  b(>fore  or  since. 

'i'he  objects  of  my  journey  through  the  ^Mexican  do- 
minions, were  to  benefit  others  more  than  myself.  Not 
only  did  that  journey  subject  to  incredible  hardships  and 
sufferings,  but  greatly  exj)osed  me  to  the  ])ursuing  and 
subtle  enemy.  At  New  Orleans  and  \'era  Cruz,  the  hos- 
tile troops  made  bold  and  fierce  attacks.  They,  there, 
almost  ovc^rcame  me. 

That  circuitous  route,  instead  of  a  direct  one  across 
the  Ilocky  jNIountains,  was  \\  holly  induced  by  a  dc>sirc  of 
effecting  some  arrangements  with  ofHccn's  of  the  jNIexican 
government  and  distinguished  indivichials  in  that  country, 
relative  to  the  lumber  and  fish  trade  between  the  Colum- 


70 

bia  lliver  and  the  Mexican  western  ports ;  *  anrl  for  cx- 
tcndini":,  in  proper  time,  my  colouizinu  operations  into 
Tli/jh  California ;  and,  also,  by  a  desire  of  tnrning  tlie 
attention  of  the  people  in  tlie  cities  of  INIexico  to  some 
better  system  of  edncation  than  had  ever  been  adopted 
by  them  ;  and,  generally,  to  such  internal  improAements, 
moral  and  physical,  as  would  most  likely  lay  a  better 
foundation  for  freedom,  and  multiply  in  tlieir  land  the 
conveniences  and  comforts  of  life. 

Thirty  years  ago,  my  lamp  was  trimmed  and  burning. 
Then,  devot(^d  to  the  cause  of  humanity,  I  planned  for 
improving  the  condition  of  the  North  American  Indians ; 
and  devised  a  system  of  humane  and  fair  dealing  with 
that  benighted  and  oppressed  race  of  men. 

More  than  twenty  years  ago,  partly  to  bring  about  the 
good  planned  for  the  Indians,  I  projected  a  railroad  to 
communicate  between  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Keference  to  that  project  is 
made  in  my  Geographical  Sketch  of  Oregon,  printed  in 
1829;  and  in  the  ISIemoir  to  Congress,  in  1839,  relative 
to  the  statistics  and  topography  nf  that  territory.  It  has 
often  been  mentioned  to  scientific  and  enterprising  men ; 
and  is  described  in  my  journals  and  papers.  Had  ene- 
mies let  me  alone,  the  road  would  have  been  graded  from 
one  end  to  the  other  before  this ;  and  Oregon,  before  the 
year  1840,  would  have  teemed  with  a  population  from 
our  own  blest  country ;  and  Alta  California  would  have 
become  the  possession  of  the  United  States  earlier  than 
it  did ;  and  have  cost  less  monev,  and  no  blood ;  and 
that  whole  wilderness,  dark  as  it  was,  ere  this  day,  would 
have  been  changed  to  shining  fields  and  flowery  gardens ; 
and  society  there,  would  have  been  dressed  in  lovely  at- 
tire, and  robed  in  charms  of  moral  beauty. 


*  I  obtained  the  exccutUc  permission  to  hold  correspondence  with 
the  Mexican  government  on  tiiosc  matters.  Ileahh  becoming  im- 
paired, nothing  was  done  relative  to  the  trade  ;  nor  npon  tiie  other 
si.ibj(?cts  directly  witli  tlie  government.  I  applied  to  that  government 
through  Mr.  Muntoya,  Charge  d'Atfaires  at  Washington,  for  permission 
to  conduct  across  that  covmtry  (from  Vera  Cruz  to  Acapulco)  a  com- 
pany of  emigrants,  with  their  eiFects. 


I 


71 


The  route  begins  on  tlie  bank  of  the  IMissouri  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Kansas,  crosses  the  back-hone  of  the 
continent  through  a  dei)ression  near  tlie  4-]d  parallel,  lays 
along  the  valley  of  the  Snake  lliver,  and  crosses  the 
Columbia  at  ^^'alla^valla ;  and,  again,  it  makes  a  moun- 
tainous transit  on  the  -westerly  side  of  the  valley  of 
Clarks  lliver,  where,  intelligent  hunters  su])posc  no  for- 
midable difficulties  exist  to  be  encountered  ;  and  termi- 
nates in  a  delightful  and  fertile  tract  of  country  near  the 
southern  extremity  of  Puget's  Sound,  there,  to  connect 
with  the  interminable  tracks  of  the  ships  of  the  great 
deep.  The  eligibility  of  that  place  for  a  terminus,  and 
for  an  entrepot  and  depot,  can  be  fully  conceived  of,  only 
by  those  wdio  understand  the  natural  advantages  of  that 
portion  of  Oregon  for  commerce  and  agriculture ;  and 
know  the  chart  and  all  about  I)e  I'uca's  Straits.  That 
sea  has  an  entrance  nearly  twenty  miles  in  width  ;  and 
is  spotted  with  islands  exuberantly  fertile.  Its  shores 
are  indented  with  many  fine  harbors ;  and  its  surface  is  a 
smooth  expanse,  seldom  agitated  by  furious  winds  ;  and 
the  largest  ships  that  float  can  safely  enter  it,  and  can 
safely  sail  over,  and  anchor  in  any  port  of  it. 

My  plans  differ,  in  some  res[)ects,  from  those  by  ^Ir. 
Whitney,  now  before  the  public.  His,  I  think,  are  well 
devised  and  matured.  Plis  ideas,  as,  in  1848,  I  under- 
stood them  from  the  projector  himself,  in  regard  to  the 
routes,  to  the  execution  of  the  work,  and  to  the  benefits 
to  accrue  to  the  world,  especially,  to  our  nation,  seem 
consistent  and  sound :  in  my  apprehension,  there  can  be 
none  better. 

He  would  have  the  one  half  of  a  strip  of  territory 
sixty  miles  in  brc^adth.  The  United  States  to  retain  the 
other  half,  —  every  alternate  section.  ]\rine  propose  just 
half  of  that  bn^adth ;  and  looking  to  Indian  ameliora- 
tions, give  to  the  native  tribes  a  portion  of  the  lands  for 
a  possession,  and  appropriate  a  portion  for  their  Chris- 
tianization,  and  for  improvements  in  their  affairs  and 
fortune. 

When  in  California,  in  ISfU,  exjiloring  the  valley  of 


72 


p.  '■'( 


the  Sacramonto,  whore,  at  that  time,  none  hut  wild  men 
dwelt ;  and,  none  hut  savage  liunters  roamed ;  cogitatin*:^ 
upon  internal  improvements,  1  planned  a  hraneh  to  ex- 
tend from  some  point  in  the  route,  after  the  transit  of  the 
llocky  ^lountains,  to  the  Bay  of  San  l^'rancisco.  This 
coineides  with  the  views  of  the  Hon.  T.  II.  Benton,  ex- 
pressed in  a  speech  made  hy  him  in  Congress,  upon  the 
subject  of  a  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific. 

j\[y  thoughts  are  still  on  the  execution  of  these  de- 
sirable and  heaven-suggested  imjirovements,  and  on  the 
resources  which  the  road  would  open  to  the  people  of 
this  country  for  wealth,  kno^Aledge,  and  national  superi- 
ority. Should  health  and  strength  ever  again  he  equal 
to  so  great  a  labor,  and  my  enemies  loosen  the  cords  that 
hind  me,  hand  and  foot,  the  two  ])rojects,  Indian  and  rail- 
road, remaining  unaccomplished,  I  shall  engage  in  thc>m 
with  what  science  and  skill  I  possess,  and  with  my  ac- 
customed zeal  and  perseverance,  hoping  to  be  able  to  add 
them  to  the  list  of  my  achievements.  I  intended  to  have 
gone  into  the  work,  as  soon  as  practicable,  after  my  re- 
turn home  ;  but  sickness,  and  almost  entire  prostration 
of  strength,  interposed  to  prevent.  I  had  fallen  among 
robbers,  who  half  killed  me  ;  and  my  wounds  remained 
undressed.  Even  to  this  day,  they  are  ludiealed.  Never- 
theless, feeble  as  I  was,  and  suffering  extremely  from  the 
nervous  affection  in  the  head,  I  wrought,  in  1837,  at  rail- 
road engineering.  Debts*  contracted  in  1832  to  advance 
the  colonizing  of  Oregon,  compelled  me  so  to  labor. 


*  One  of  the  debts  (about  $400)  cancelled,  from  the  carninfjs  of 
that  year,  was  due  a  firm  of  mercliants  in  the  city  of  Now  York. 
In  1832  was  purchased  a  variety  of  articles  for  culinary,  mechanical 
and  farming  purposes,  such  as  were  thought  indispensably  necessary 
to  the  use  of  those  whom  I  was  about  to  settle  on  the  Wallamet  in 
Oregon.  They  were  packed  in  a  tierce,  and  constituted  a  part  of  the 
baggage,  which  was  lodged  for  safe  keeping,  a  few  days,  in  the 
custom-house  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  was  taken  from  mo.  The  property, 
under  the  circumstances  of  my  travelling,  was  not  dutiable.  One  of 
the  objects  of  the  custom-house  ofiicers,  and  the  others  by  whom  they 
were  led,  was,  doubtless,  to  plunder,  and  to  induce  my  return  home. 
While  in  that  city,  1  was  daily  urged  to  return  ;  and  I  should  have  had 


73 

1  expivssod  on  the  foiirtli  page  an  earnest  desire  to 
help  th(!  Indian  race,  llef'erencc;  is,  there,  made  to  tlic 
Appenchx.  Papers  concerning  tlieni,  and  the  raih'oad 
project,  are  marked  1>  and  C  At  the  earliest  opportu- 
nity, Axhen  the  pen  has  completed  its  ser^•ice,  they  will 
be  liereto  aj)pen(led. 

In  an  enlargement  of  this  book,  and  in  papers  to  be 
ap[)ended,  in  order  for  a  per[)etual  record,  will  be  told 
what  remains  untold  about  my  manner  of  life  ;  plans  and 
purposes  of  doing  good  ;  patience,  faith,  and  charity  ; 
and  nun-e  about  the  terrible  persecution ;  and  will  there 
be  told,  in  my  loudest  tone  of  Aoice,  what  misanthropes 
did  to  break  up  an  enterprise,  now^  resulting  in  perma- 
nent good  to  our  countrymen ;  and  concerning  jn-ojects 
long  ago  concei\ed,  which,  partly  on  account  of  feeble 
health,  but  chiefly,  the  cupidity  of  covetous  and  wicked 
men,  are  unaccomplished. 

j\Iy  claim  for  indemnity  was  preferred  against  ^lexico 
in  1840;  and  a  more  just  claim  could  not  be.  I  think 
it  probable,  the  minds  of  the  American  and  Mexican 
conmiissioners  w^re  so  darkened  by  my  enemies,  about 
them,  as  to  sec  no  merits  in  the  claimant,  and  not  to  care 
to  open  liis  case. 

In  the  year  18^37, 1  surveyed  three  railroad  routes  in  the 
State  of  Elaine,  each,  lioweAcr,  of  short  extent,  having  the 
assistance,  only,  of  two  or  three  men  unacquainted  with 
cnginei  ring,  and  employed  on  the  out-door  work.  I 
planned,  figured,  drafted,  and  performed  the  office-work ; 
besides,  tlu;  entire  labor  with  the  field  instruments.  The 
service  was  laborious ;  ([uite  too  much  for  my  broken-down 
constitution.  I  suffered  through  the  whole  season  of 
making  these  surveys,  se\ere  pain  in  the  head,  proceed- 
ing from  the  affection  of  the  optic  nerves.  In  the  begin- 
ning   of  the   following  year,  I  did  what  I  had   never 

u  plausible  excuse  for  iloino;  it.  One  of  the  villains  whom  I  had 
caused  to  bo  released  i'nnn  |)rison  at  New  Orleans,  was  there,  seeking 
an  opportunity  to  demonstrate  his  murderous  intentions  upon  me.  I 
was  aware  of  the  manojuvring  of  those  officers,  and  of  tlie  men  who 
had  thus  far  followed  me,  and  of  him  who  was  stationed  there. 
10 


m: 


])of()ro  (loiio;  conscd  lor  a  -\\liili'  iVoiii  liaid  liil)nr.  'J'lu* 
ii(l\ic(>  of  tlu'  al)Icv-t  plivsiciaus  in  our  land  A\as.  to  j^i\e 
([uii't  to  the  iicrNcvs.  Ursi  to  the  ('}(>s,  and  idso  to  tlio 
mind,  in  their  o[nnion.  couhl  allord  the  only  ground  of 
Lope  in  my  case.  Althonuh  this  advice  was  ^ood.  yet  I 
could  not  wholly  comply  witli  it  —  could  not  all  at  once, 
br(>ak  iVom  long-  continued  habits  of  intense  thinking'  and 
hard  workini;,'.  .Still  1  believed  it  iinsai'e  to  do  any  thing 
re([uiring  severe  (>xercise  of  eye^.  either  in  usinu,-,  person- 
all},  the  i)eu  or  optical  instruments;  but,  miuht  with 
impunity,  under  circumstances,  such  as  would  not  tend 
to  nervous  excitenieut  or  irritation,  or  impair  usefulness, 
superintend  work  in  my  professional  business.  I,  there- 
fore, determined  to  continue  in  some  field  of  useful  enter- 
prise ;  and  turned  to  a  i)roject  then  on  foot,  from  another 
(juarter;  that  of  u  canal  or  railroad  across  the  Isthmus 
to  Panama.  That  choice  was  made,  partly  to  pre  le  for 
memorializing  C'ongrcvss  ou  the  subjects  of  the  construe- 
tiou  of  the  Pacitiv"  railroad,  and  the  civilization  of  the 
Indiaus  in  the  United  .Statcvs'  territories.  It  was  thought, 
that  working  in  the  conspicuous  position  of  a  chief 
engineer,  two  or  three  years,  in  a  southern  climate, 
would  limber  the  limbs  for  oj)erations  in  a  northern ; 
and  the  work  itself  would  render  honorable  testimony 
to  my  capabilities ;  and  be  commendatory  letters  to  men 
in  the  councils  of  our  nation. 

Accordingly,  I  Avent  to  Washington,  in  the  close  of 
1838,  hoping,  under  the  government  auspices,  to  nudve 
myself  useful,  in  opening  to  the  world  a  railroad  thor- 
oughfare between  the  two  great  oceans.  I  conferred 
with  Mr.  Mercer,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Senate,  on  lloads  and  Canals,  who  said,  a  report  would 
be  made,  favorable  to  the  enter[)rise.  Such  a  report  was 
submitted  and  accepted ;  but  no  appropriation  was  made, 
and  nothing  further  done  by  Congress  upon  the  subject. 

This  is  not  all  which  the  s})irit  of  bencAolent  enter- 
l)rise,  and  the  love  of  doing  good,  ha\e  led  me  to  do, 
and  attempt  in  that  direction.  While  ex})loring  the 
country   between  Vera  Cruz   and   the  City  of  Mexico, 


u 


r  brraiiio  sntisficd  of  tlio  frnsibility  of  fi  railroad  routo 
li('t\\('(>ii  the  one  iiiul  the  otlici'  of  tlios(>  jjliifcs.  Desirous 
of  s('('iii<4'  .M<'\i<"<)  Ix'iictitcd  \\h]\  the  smimc  kind  of  insti- 
tutions antl  improvcnicnts.  as  those  etfectini;  sueli  ^reat 
tilings  for  my  iiati\r  \ew  England,  I  ])lan!ied  and  advi-ed 
that  improvement  —  especially,  would  1  have  internal 
inij>ro\emi  nts  connneneed  without  the  least  pos-  hlu 
delay,  in  a  country.  ^^  her*'  the  connnon  people  \verc>  hut 
a  little  in  advance  of  the  heathen;  where  most  of  the 
roads  were  in  a  stat(>  of  nature,  and  the  earth  bon;  hut 
few  marks  and  e\i(lences  of  civilization  dwelliufj^  there. 

'J'he  improvement  suiifi'csted  hy  me  was  a  topic  of 
frecjuent  conversation  with  "NN'ilcox,  the  Ain(>rican  c^msnl 
at  ^lexico,  wliU  \\hom  I  quartered  several  weeks;  and 
with  other  enter[)risini;'  foreij^ners.  It  was  one  of  the 
suhji^cts  of  a  communication  to  I'residont  Santa  Anna, 
descrihiufj,  accin'dinfr  to  my  approlunision,  what  would 
he  the  utility  of  railroads  and  some  better  system  of  com- 
mon school  education,  to  the  Mexican  Republic.  The 
immediate  consideration  of  them  both,  was  uv^cd  with 
all  the  pathos  and  force  of  elo(iuence  at  my  command, 
which  was  not  much. 

From  the  time  railroads  first  came  into  use,  I  have 
been  strongly  imprc'ssed  with  the  belief,  of  their  being 
among  the  powerful  means,  under  Divine  Providence,  of 
improving  the  condition  of  man ;  and  of  their  consti- 
tuting one  of  the  principles  of  progress  in  the  march  of 
mind  and  spread  of  freedom,  civil  and  religions  —  one 
of  the  prophetic  thunders  which,  in  these  latter  days, 
with  a  voice  louder  than  when  lions  roar,  utter  know- 
ledge. AVhile  the  im])rovements  to  which  I  refer,  beau- 
tify the  country  they  intersect,  they  bring  distant  places 
near ;  and  strangers  to  hold  converse,  and  to  commune 
together ;  mind  is  brought  in  contact  with  mind ;  and 
sentiment  is  enlightened  with  sentiment.  l>y  hicreasing 
intelligence  among  the  people,  and  the  means  and  facili- 
ties for  magnificent  undertakings,  they  accelerate  great 
moral  movements,  and  bring  about  wonderful  things  in 
the  earth. 


76 


'I'lio  ronsnl  was  an  imdorstnndiniQ:  man,  and  influential. 
II(^  and  others  -\visliiny;  ■well  to  Mexico,  promised  to  do 
what  tluv  could  to  cause  tlu;  ininrovemeut.  Shortly 
ui\vv  my  letiirn  to  Massachusetts,  1  had  the  satisfaction 
to  l(>aiii,  tliat  the  road  had  heeu  conmienced.  It  does 
not  follow,  as  a  thin^j,-  in  course*,  that  the  nndertakinj; 
orii^inated  from  any  thin<,^  I  had  said ;  hut,  there  is  u 
possibility;  Acs,  a  ])rol)al)ility,  and  some  strong  indica- 
tions of  such  being'  the  fact. 

Ilaviuf^'  spoken,  qnit(>  enouj^h,  of  j^ood  deeds  to  others, 
r  will  now  make  further  mention  of  (>vil  deeds  to  myself 

A\'ho  are  those  who  do  me  harm  ?  They  aic  ill- 
dis])ose(l  and  treacherous  countrymen  ;  mean  and  un])rin- 
cipled  men;  hirelings  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Company; 
contemptible  tools,  employ(>d  to  impoverish,  harass  and 
vex  me.  Some  to  pick  my  pocket ;  otluns  to  atHict,  and 
to  overwhelm  with  troid)les  —  all  to  prev(>nt  my  onward 
course.  They  have  followed  me  from  place  to  ])lacc; 
from  l)Ost()U  to  Vera  Cruz;  and  plundered  and  abused 
mo  from  New  JiULiland  to  OrcLjon.  Thev  brutallv  treated 
me  at  Vancouver,  and  during  my  passage  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands ;  and  have  continued  to  slander  throughout 
my  ac(piaintance ;  and  to  persecute  in  the  cities  of  Ijos- 
ton,  New  York,  and  Washington ;  and  to  mock  and 
ridicule  in  public  journals ;  in  the  Comic  Almanac,  of 
which  twenty  thousand  copies  were  printed  in  1838. 
They  converted  the  ])oweriuI  press  into  au  engine  for 
my  destruction,  and  turned  it  against  me ;  and  for  the 
last  thirteen  years,  luuc  oppressed  and  A'exed  mo  in  the 
dark  village  of  Three  Hi  vers,  Mass.,  the  place  of  my 
present  abode,  and  place  of  my  exile.  See  pamphlet 
called  '•'•Hard  Usa/je  in  Three  liivers.'' 

Plmider  and  slauderons  imputations  arc  some  of  the 
ways  by  which  they  would  accomplish  their  devilish 
purposes  upon  me. 

In  the  beginning,  to  thwart  my  movements,  and  to 
break  up  an  expedition  preparing  for  Oregon,  to  consist 
of  several  hundred  emigrants  who  had  enlisted  for  it, 
they  sought  to  get  from  me  every  dollar  of  property  in 


77 


my  pnssossion,  wlu^tlu'r  bolono-infr  to  otluTS  or  myself; 
and  l)y  {•unuiiif,'  iind  trickisli  niaiKnivrinfif,  succccdi'tl  in 
{i'cttiii^-  hold  of  my  cstatt'S,  iind  a  larj^o  amount  of  ]H'1-- 
sonal  property.  'l"akiii<;'  advantage  of  the  near  apjjroach 
of  the  time  fixed  for  m\  departure  with  the  exijedition, 
and  of  my  lonely  and  almost  friendless  condition,  they 
jj;ot  from  me,  first  of  all,  the  homestead  in  C'harlestown, 
at  less  than  one  third  of  tlu^  true  value  of  that  i)rineely 
estate;  nor,  did  they  deal  hetter  hy  me  in  rej^ard  to  other 
estates. 

One  of  the  ])lunderers,  at  the  commencement  of  his 
inhumanity  towards  me,  was  young-,  sprij^iitly,  and  to  all 
app{>arances,  harndess,  and  of  i^'ood  hal)its ;  hut  soon 
l)t>canie  dissipated  and  vicious;  and  induisi'ed  in  heastly 
carnalities;  and  died  as  sometimes  a  diseasi'd  hrute  dies, 
a  loathsome  ohject, —  to  he  ])itied,  ^^hen  li\in<>-,  to  he 
sure.  This  event,  like  many  others  which  could  he 
mentioned,  seems  to  show,  that  we  have  ahout  us  an 
aven<i;inf2^  Providence,  caring  for  the  "little  ones"  of 
Christ's  kingdom. 

In  Palmer,  in  IS'V2,  a  considerable  amount  of  property 
was  snatched  from  me ;  and  iu  the  summer  of  the  same 
year,  an  e(iual  amount,  in  Boston,  was  drawn  from  my 
possession.  While  incpiiring  anu)ng  the  merchants,  and 
in  the  hearing  of  o])posers  to  my  efforts  for  a  vessel  to 
he  used  in  transporting  freight  to  the  Columbia  lliver, 
an  old  sea  captain  was  sent  to  advise  relative  to  my 
object ;  and  to  lead  me  into  a  snare.  The  policy  was 
to  reduce  my  funds ;  and,  in  that  way,  to  retard  pro- 
gress. The  captain  thought  it  advisable  to  buy  rather 
than  to  hire  a  vessel ;  and,  as  the  brig  J.  Q.  Adams  was 
for  sale,  to  buy  her,  gravely  promising,  at  the  same  time, 
to  be  a  large  owner;  and,  thinking  himself  seaworthy, 
to  go  in  her,  as  first  mate.  He  stated  the  sum  which  he 
would  invest,  and  where  that  sum  was  in  deposit.  I 
consented  to  his  propositions,  made  the  purchase  and  the 
first  [)ayment,  and  commenced  repairs ;  but  before  the 
day  for  making  the  second  and  last  payment,  he  was 
off  and  missing ;  so  I  was  left  to  suffer  disappointment, 


78 


mortiiication,  loss  of  property,  and  an  incrcaso  of  dis- 
tressing an\i('ti(^s. 

The  losses  ijt  Xew  (Orleans,  including'  "vvliat  the  cor- 
rnpted  \va\l  ^,i  i;iy  party  causfd  me  to  expend  at  tluit 
]dace,  in  lawsuits,  and  ^vhat,  from  necessity,  was  left  on 
sliore  at  the  moment  of  my  re-end  )arl\  at  ion  ;  and  also, 
"what  the  two  l(>lons,  rel(Nis(Hl  tlirongh  my  merciful  i'vcl- 
ings  from  ])ris()n,  carried  away,  am*^niited  to  several 
hundred  dollars.  See  C'ha]».  L.  p.  I.  The  damaged  pro- 
perty thrown  o\erboard  from  tlic  M'ssel  •which  carried  mc 
on  her  (juarter-decl:,  dnii'i^-  nnnarkahle  extr(MHes  of 
wcatlu^r  across  tlie  nuif  of  .Texico,  added  to  that  Avhich 
Avas  stored  in  the  custom-hoiise  at  \'era  Cm/,  and  of 
which  I  was  [)lundere(l  by  Mexican  ofhcers,  in  conni- 
vance with  certain  American  citizens,  was  a  ^ery  con- 
siderable amount,  and  miicli  more  than  I  was  willing  to 
lose  at  that  staL>e  of  the  ]>rogress  of  the  enterprise. 
8ee  Chap.  T.  and  11,  of  llic  History  of  the  Colonization  of 
Oregon. 

'Diere  were  other  losses  l)(>tw'.'en  Ijoston  and  the  (Jo- 
Inmbia  llivcr.  A  ves-el  liad  been  engaged  to  bo  at 
Acai)rdco  at  a  certair.  time,  to  take  myself  and  party, 
with  my  ctiects,  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  'J'he  party 
having  been  disnnsscd  at  Ne^  Orleans,  and  a  large  pari 
of  the  effects  taken  from  mo  at  Vera  Cruz,  and,  in  con- 
sc(pience  of  the  latter  occurrence,  having  been  detained 
over  two  months  at  the  Citv  of  Mexico,  rendered  it 
impracticable  to  l)c  in  season,  at  tlie  place  appointed. 
These  and  other  distressful  circumstances  caused  a  change 
of  my  route;  and  more  than  a  year  of  delay  in  my 
arrival  at  the  final  plac(>  of  destination. 

The  enemy  came  to  Three  Rivers,  or  ratlnn-,  in  1842, 
came  again  to  vex  me,  and  to  plunder  my  propert}  ;  to 
load  my  mind  with  troubles ;  and  to  hasten  the  decay  of 
my  nature.  Here  they  hav(>  made-  a  bold  descent,  at- 
tempting to  carry  off  my  hard  earnings,  and  what  had 
providentially  come  into  my  possession,  e\en  all  the 
earthly  substance  belonging  to  me.  About  the  place  of 
my  residence  tliey  continue  cunningly  to  n'nnieuvre  as 
though  the  devil  himself  was  at  the  head. 


79 


l> 


C)])piv«si()ii  bccoiiiiiiii;  iiitolcrabl(\  I  felt  provoked  to 
ivsi^i  ;  ;i!i(l  in  iS-^Tj,  brought  ;i  suit  in  law  against  certain 
ind'AicUials  ot"  tlieni,  in  (lef'-nce  of  my  rights.  ])aniages, 
here,  up  to  the  prescMit,  may  justly  be  estimatcHl  at  sonu- 
tliing  more  lliaii  .S'^OOO,  lIoAvever,  the  suit,  and  the 
pcH'uniary  eml)arrassments  caused  by  their  conduct,  out- 
raging all  that  is  di-cent  in  business  transactions,  Avill  soon 
det(n-mine  the  ]>recise  amovnir.  See  A])pendix*  to  the 
pamphk^t,  to  ■^^•hi(•h  reference  has  been  niiule. 

Thus,  I  hav(>  bri(>il}  pointc^l  out  the  circinnstancc^s  of 
their  ati  ^mjjting  to  impoNcrish  me,  and  to  d<^prive  nie  of 
means,  the  only  means,  as  they  su])])osed.  ot'  progrt-ss  in 
the  benevolent  and  patriotic  enterprise,  which  they,  with 
all  their  Nicaits^  —  cunning.  ])lottings,  zeal,  treachery  and 
Avealth,  —  so  powerfully  opposed.  Choosing  darkness, 
th(>y  ha\('  continued  therein,  being  deceived  anrl  deceiving 
others  concerning  the  man  whom  they  would  destroy. 
There  is  no  lack  of  persons  who,  in  Aiow  of  irwdnls  or 
(Kh-(fHf(i<fc,  arc  ready  to  be  deceived,  and  to  sacrifice  the 
truest  of  friends ;  and,  who  have  talents  and  intiuence  to 
ruin  a  country,  but  no  princij)!*"  or  integrity  to  s;i\e  one 

Now,  let  them  stop  and  reflect,  —  wheel  about,  and 
rever.e  their  motives  and  [)lans  ;  and  demonstrate  inclina- 
tions lO  d(>al  jnstly  and  truly  v,ith  me.  It'  tlu\\  Avill  not 
do  this,  then,  let  them  go  on  ;  iterate  falsehood  and  eal- 
unuiv  as  njucli  as  thev  i)lease  ;  but  not  in  the  cowardly 
manner  they  have  hitherto  dcme,  making  their  thrusts  in 
tlu>  dark. 

It  rem.ilns  to  reu'.ark  p;ulicularly,  as  to  the  slanderous 
imputations  of  those  acnng  with  so  much  tidelity  to  the 
Hudson  ]5ay  Company  ;  and  so  faithlessly  to  their  coun- 
trAUien.  I'lsioitdn/,  cni::[i/,  stnjjid,  no  means  or  mind  to  do 
auif  thi)i<i.     'J'liest^  are  their  ANords. 

1  am  Hall  J.  Ki-llev  ;  that  is  mv  name ;  am  what  edu- 


^  li  ^i\<'s,  ill  'li.'tail,  tlic  |i;iilicul;irs  ol'  lianl  usau'-  at  't'lircc  l\;\'(  rs. 
Us  uldt'ct  is  t(j  enliulitcii  iViciids  cuiiccriiiii-'  the  oriuiiia'liiL;'  c^aiist's  <jt' 
(luiiK'slic  ulllitMioas,  iIk'  (li'solatimi  (jf  liomc,  liuj  dishonor  paid  iiu^  in 
my  liousc,  and  tlu'  hniiality  ]iractisrd  upon  luc  liy  certain  influential 
persons  no;ir  the  pla','e  of  my  residence. 


80 


cation,  liabits,  and  tlie  ii:raco  of  God  have  made  mo. 
Ea(lca^Ol■s  to  do  rij^lit ;  a  disposition  j)nnctiiionsly  to 
perlbrm  tvory  duty  in  life,  render  me  deserving;-  the  <^steem 
of  all  wise  and  i^ood  men  ;  and  the  s\in[)at]iy  and  relief 
I  liumbiy  ask  of  the  public.  ['isioixi n/  nnd  era::)/  —  I 
liave  often  been  spoken  of,  in  this  way ;  not  to  my  i\iCi\ 
l)nt  where  slander  can  best  succeed  in  doini>-  its  work. 
These  ()i)probrious  appellati\(^s  were  a])plie(l  to  m(^  in 
public  journals,  and  from  the  mouth  of  calumny,  when 
all  devoted  to  the  cause  of  Innnanity  ;  Avhen  planning*  and 
ctfectin<^  o'l-cnt  and  i>ood  things  for  the  peo))le  of  my 
country.  ^ly  projects  were  xmncfoun  but  not  idle.  They 
were  no  more  than,  with  a  chutr  head  and  a  sane  mind,  I 
could  accom[)lisli.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  prin- 
cipal of  them.  How  far  they  indicate  mental  imbecility 
or  deran^(nn(>nt,  the  candid  who  have  been  about  me  can 
judi^e.  'J'he  Colonization  of  Oregon,  and  the  Settlement 
of  the  Avild  parts  of  Alta  Calitbrnia  :  A  System  of  Hu- 
mane ])ealin^-  with  the  Indians  of  Xorth  America;  A 
Canal  from  15oston  to  the  Connecticut  Ixivcr  (before  rail- 
roads were  understood) ;  Improvements  in  the  System  of 
I^ducation  in  my  adopted  State ;  Im}U'ov(>ments  in  the 
■first  class  of  lllementar}-  School  Ijooks,  used  in  the  Com- 
mon Schools;  The  tirst  Sabbath  School  IJook  usi'd  in 
New  England  ;  The  Organization  of  the  first  Sabbath 
School  in  the  same  ])ortion  of  country  ;  Several  Kail- 
roads,  such,  as  it  was  supposed,  would  be  of  public  utility. 
These,  and  many  others,  \\v\v  my  plans  ;  and  they  were 
all  ])racticable  ;  and  most  of  th(in  were  brought  into 
operation  through  my  instrumentality.  T  ])lanned,  though 
not  lastly,  a  course  of  conduct,  \\hich,  with  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  ('lirist,  Avill  fix,  I  trusr.  my  abcde  b(>yond  llie 
])ersecutions  of  this  (>\  il  world,  where  tlie  '•  wi(  ked  cease 
from  troubling,  and  the  w(\uy  b(^  at  rest."  (Se(^  pajter 
C,  in  Appendix  to  History  of  the  Coloni/ntiou  ot'  Oicgon.) 
Ik'  it,  in  the  ojnnion  of  mireasonable  men,  that  I  am  a 
visionarv,  a  crazv  maii,  or  a  humbui''.  It  is  not  tlu^  de- 
sign  of  my  remarks  t;)  prove  to  the  contrar'>  ,  n)y  handy 
works,  every  where  in  the  fields  of  my  Ial»oi',  sUi!!""icntly 


81 


Ic   mo. 
isly  to 
esteem 
X  relief 
c-j/  — I 
ly  face, 
^\■o^k. 
mi^  ill 
',  ^vlieii 
iiio-  and 
of  my 
They 
iiiiiul,  1 
e  pi'iii- 
beeility 
me  can 
tlenieiit 
of  lln- 
•ica;  A 
irc  rail- 
stem  of 
in  the 
Com- 
scd  in 
bbath 
Kail- 
ntiHty. 
y  \\ere 
it   into 
iiou*>h 
in  the 
nd   the 
(1  cease 
paper 
!('t>()n.) 
I  am  a 
lie  de- 
handv 
"ientb- 


SI 


testifying  in  these  respects ;  hut  to  show  how  cruel,  and 
how  niuc]i  like  madmen  my  persecuting  enemies  liavc 
heen. 

Stupid — stuj)i(l  as  tliey  are  pleased  to  re])vesent  m(\  I 
have  intellects  eiiouuli  to  (Hscriininate  between  friends  and 
foes;  to  judge,  and  that  justly,  of  the  good  feelings  and 
the  merciful  regards  of  the  one  ;  and  of  thxC  Avicked  de- 
vices of  the  other.  It  is  true,  the  ken  of  tlu^  greatest 
understanding  can  ])enetrate  bur  a  little  way  tlie  mind  of 
the  wise,  to  kiunv  its  secrets  ;  yet  one  of  ordinary  acute- 
ness  can  peneti'iitc^  thi'ougli  that  of  my  worse  than  stu])id 
defamers.  As  stupid  as  I  ;un,  I  can  (hscern  the  intents 
and  purposes  of  those  seeking  to  (U^prive  me  of  my  good 
nam(\  of  my  earthly  substance,  an<l  of  the  comtbrts  and 
endearmenis  of  life. 

No  Ni('(H)s  or  mi  Nil  f.)  tla  a//!/  fhi/)i/.  — It  was  so  stat(Hl  in 
th(^  City  (if  X{  A\'  'N'()ri\,  in  thi^  liearing  of  a  multitude  of 
])ersons.  It  has  often  been  i'(>peated  in  otlier  places  ;  and 
in  tlie  hearing  of  DubHe  ukmi.  imphing  that  I  had  done 
nothing  towards  s(>tt!ing  Oregon.  1  pronounce  this  a 
consunnnate  falsehood,  uttered  with  a  malicious  design. 

T   have   on  some  j)re\ious  page  truly   said;    the   con- 

>ti()n   was   mir.c.     'l\\r  saciifices   Avere  min(>,  great  as 
t      \  W(M'e.     The   achievement  A\as  inin(\  witlunit  morta' 
hr'lp  ;   A  irtually  mad(>,  before  I  lelt  this   for  that  side   of 
the  continent.     The  enduring  of  twenty  years  of  a  mer- 
cil(>ss  persecution,  has  been,  alone,  mine. 

Mean  and  misantliroi)ic  men  ])icked  my  pocket ;  and 
decinving,  induced  the  benevolent  to  withhold  their 
munificent  proffers,  and  their  hel[).  A\'hat  of  that '?  My 
means  for  carrjing  clvili/atiou  and  the  knowh  dge  of  ( «od 
into  Ore<ron,  chietiv  came  from  the  inexliaustil)le  store- 
house  of  heaven.  The  Almii'hty  God,  the  Creator  ot 
all  things,  hath  said,  in  reference  to  human  undertakings 
whose  objects  ar(>  his  glory,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  pow(T, 
but  by  my  spirit." 

i  have  said  much  concerning  self,  and  now  find  it  in- 
dispensi'.ble  to  say  more.  A\'ith  as  little  self-(^stcem  as 
self-n^spect,  I  shall  be  able   to   describe-  the  powers  and 

a 


82 


qualities  of  my  mind  ;  and  to  satisfy,  that  it  is  not 
strictly  true,  that  I  am  "  without  mind  to  do  any  thing." 
For  natural  ondownKnits,  I  havi-  notliing  to  hoast  of; 
yet,  tlio  operations  of  jii\-  mind,  T  tlihik,  indicate  sfniifi/, 
and  siu'h  ^it'ts  as  elevate  character,  as  high  above  the 
characters  of  my  grovelling  enemies,  as  the  clouds  are 
above  the  ground. 

It  is  due  chiefly  to  early  parental  instruction  and  train- 
ing, that  my  mind  is  what  it  is.  Blessed  with  intelligent 
and  i)ious  parents,  who  led  me  in  early  youth  to  fear 
God,  I  came  into  active  life  serious  minded  ;  and  nuich 
inclined  to  consider  on  my  ways,  and  to  seek  to  know 
^^•hat  could  make  me  useful  and  happy.  Before  the 
years  of  manhood,  I  resolved  on  a  fearless  obedience  to 
the  divine  connnands  ;  and  to  the  pi'csent,  I  have  con- 
tinued to  desire  and  to  pray  for  the  ])ossession  of  capa- 
bilities and  substance  to  bless  the  suffering  mortals  about 
mc. 

There  is  nothing  like  the  godly  instructions  and  virtu- 
ous examples  of  a  mother.  She  can  better  mould  the 
mind  for  I'ure  motives  and  generous  actions ;  and  can 
better  guard  against  e>  il  propensities,  and  prevent  bad 
habits  in  children,  than  the  father,  or  the  school-teacher. 
It  was  a  mother  wlio  taught  me  never  to  take  the  name 
of  the  Lord  my  Ciod  in  vain,  —  never  to  be  guilty  of  the 
sin  of  insulting  the  Almighty  with  the  breath  he  gives. 
She  impressed  my  mind  with  a  profound  and  pious  reve- 
rence for  Jehovah,  and  with  a  high  and  solemn  venera- 
tion for  the  institutions  of  Christianity  ;  and  so  impressed 
it  with  the  love  of  truth,  that  not  a  single  doubt,  as  to 
the  divine  authenticity  of  the  Scriptures,  ever  profaned 
the  sanctuary  of  my  heart.  Her  instructions  and  ex- 
amples inclined  me  to  be  diligent  and  persevering  in 
business,  and  faithful  and  patient  in  the  discharge  of 
duties  ;  to  be  hospitable  and  merciful,  —  when  (>nemies 
hunger  and  thirst,  to  feed  them,  and  give  them  drink  ; 
and  to  bless  them  that  jiersecutc.  Finally,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  I  hope  I  liaNC  the  love  for  my  neighbor,  which 
meets  the  divine  reciuisition  ;  and  am  disposed  to  do  aii 


83 


is  not 
thing." 
:>ast  of; 
'  sail  iff/, 
»ovc  the 
•uds  arc 

id  train- 
tclli<>ent 
to  fear 
d  miicli 
to  know 
"ore  the 
ience  to 
ive  con- 
of  ca  pa- 
ls about 

id  virtu- 
)uld  the 
md  can 
ent  bad 
teacher, 
e  name 
y  of  the 
e  gives, 
us  reve- 
vcnera- 
pressed 
t,  as  to 
I'ofaned 
ind  ex- 
iling- in 
arge  of 
nemies 
drink  ; 
;  'jiace 
,  which 
3  do  aii 


the  good  in  my  power  for  him,  and  for  the  country,  and 
mankind  in  general  ;  and  to  endure  every  evil  coming 
upon  me,  with  [latience  and  }>ious  heroism. 

1  say,  therefore,  I  liave  mind ;  and  have  been  measura- 
bly useful.  Intellectual  gifts,  purity  of  motives,  benevo- 
lent actions,  and  a  spirit  of  public  and  high-minded 
enterprise,  have  made  me  so. 

I  will  take  this  o})portunity,  for  the  first,  and  probably 
the  last  time  in  my  life,  to  explain  what  is  of  no  interest 
to  the  public,  my  position  in  society,  as  to  politics  and 
religion.  I  will  do  it  in  a  few  words,  and  in  hmguage 
of  di\  ine  inspiration.  Where  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is, 
there  is  liberty  ;  tliere  is  indiA  idual  freedom  ;  there  is, 
also,  the  spirit  of  philanthro[)y ;  and  th(>  spirit  of  martyrs 
to  meet  any  event,  or  to  encounter  any  difficulty  in  obey- 
ing the  connnands  of  God ;  and  there  I  am,  steadfast  and 
true  to  my  brother  man,  —  ready  to  march  with,  to  fight 
with,  and  to  die  with  freemen,  godly  heroes,  valiant  sol- 
diers under  the  all-merciful,  all-wise,  and  all-powerful 
Prince  of  Peace. 

It  cannot  be  denied,  but  I  have  had  a  mind  capable  of 
doing  much  for  Oregon.  The  vcny  nature  and  magnitude 
of  the  undertaking  to  colonize  that  territory,  bespeak  a 
mind  as  gifted  as  the  mind  of  any  one  of  its  op[)oscrs ; 
and  the  eleven  years  of  entire  devotion  to  it,  also,  bespeak 
a  philanthropic  spirit,  which  never  moved  in  the  bosoms 
of  such  narrow-minded  men  as  its  enemies. 

The  testimony  of  my  works,  showing  the  possession  of 
an  ordinary  amount  of  mental  power,  is  adduced  more 
to  rebuke  those  who  deny  me  that  possession,  than  to 
prove  the  reality.  Those  works  are  not  so  numerous,  nor 
so  mighty,  as,  under  different  circumstances,  they  -vAOuld 
have  been.  1  have  not  accomplished  even  all  attempted  ; 
nor  attempted  all  1  woidd,  on  account  of  interferences 
and  evil  reports  of  slanderers.  The  overseers  of  the 
field'-  ^f  enterprise  were  made  to  believe  me  incapable  of 
doiiig  "  any  thing "'  ;  and,  therefore,  refused  to  employ 
me.  They  were  told  that  snow-white  was  jet-black  ; 
and  belie^'  ;d  it.     Notwithstanding  all  the  opjmsing  diffi- 


8-1 


.^ 


!i 


culties  -which  cnoniics  were  nblo  to  tlirow  in  my  Avay,  I 
forced  forward  into  the  work  ;  and  liave  labored  hard, 
beariiiy,'  the  burden  and  heat  ot"  the  dav  ;  and  iniiratitiide 
and  persecution  seem  to  bo  the  reward  for  it  aU. 

I  am  not  k'ft  Avithout  comfort.  There  is  cond'ort  in 
the  appro\als  of  cons(it>nce,  and  smiles  of  llea\en  ;  and 
great  satisfaction  in  the  belief  of  liaAing  directly  caused 
good  to  numkind  ;  and  indirectly,  other  good,  by  exciting 
in  others,  of  greater  cai)al)ilities,  corresponding  zeal  and 
efforts  with  my  own,  which  are  ])roducing  new  means  and 
moral  influences.  They,  perliaps,  ultimately,  will  cause 
far  more  j'lorious  results  in  the  earth,  than  anv  I  have 
been,  directly,  the  feeble  instrument  in  bringing  about. 

Tlieie  are  items  of  credit  to  be  placed  to  my  account, 
Avbich  the  [)ublic  think  not  of  My  books  and  i)amphlets 
had  gone  into  the  hands  of  leading  judjlic  nu>n,  and  into 
all  })arts  of  the  country,  describing  the  Oregon  T(>rritory, 
the  prospects  of  tratk'rs  and  farmers  who  might  settle 
there  ;  anil  the  benefits  of  a  commercial  intercourse  with 
the  islands  and  shores  of  the  broad  1'a.cific,  long  beibre 
Lieut.  Slocum's  Mission,  or  the  JSouth  iSea  Ex[)edition  was 
planned. 

I  confess,  my  mind  has  suffered  a  diminution  of  its 
powers :  nevertheless,  my  enendes  are  liars.  It  is  a  sad 
tru'th,  and  sorrowing  do  I  s])eak  of  it,  the  nnnd  has  suf- 
fered violence,  and  is  not  all  it  once  was.  It  has  been 
enfet'bled  with  the  body,  and  has  lost  a  portion  of  its 
elasticity.  ()[)[)ression  has  done  it.  Between  the  years 
l8o()  and  18'3"^,  when  law-suits,  unfounded  in  justice, 
were  brought  against  me  ;  when  harassed,  and  followed 
about  by  sheriffs  and  constal)les,  fear  came  mightily  u])on 
me.  I  was  not  afraid  of  men,  evini  coming,  blood-thirsty 
and  ferocious  like  wild  betists ;  but,  trend)led,  and  often 
hid  myself,  fearing  delays  and  hindrances  to  the  expe- 
dition preparing  for  Oregon ;  and  disasters  to  the  ent(n'- 
prise.  Then,  the  nnnd  receiAcd  its  first  shock.  The 
second  was  received  at  \ew  Orleans,  and  during  the  pas- 
sage to  \'era  C'ru/  ;  and  the  third,  and  most  terrible,  at 
the  Columbia  liner,  and  on  board  the  Uryade,  aaIuIc 


"e^wcw  'fHF'- 


85 


"vvay,  I 

'd  hard, 
,ratitiidu 

nlbrt  in 
oil ;  and 
'  caused 
cxcitiiij>' 
awl  and 
>aiis  and 
11  cause 
I  luive 
d)()ut. 
account, 
ini])hlets 
uul  into 
ciTitory, 
It  set  tie 
ISC  with 
'j;  bcibro 
tion  Avas 


)n  of  its 
is  a  sad 
lias  suf- 
as  been 
u  of  its 
U":  years 
justice, 
ollowed 
ly  u])on 
thirsty 
d  often 
e  e\i)e- 
ent(>r- 
The 
he  ])as- 
ihle,  at 
■wliili^ 


makini;-  a  voya<^-o  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Those  shocks, 
tou'ether  with  hardships,  broke  down  my  constitution, 
and  brought  on  a  premature  di'cay  of  my  nature.  They 
j)rodii(ed  a  nervous  ali'ection  in  the  head,  which,  for 
nearly  twenty  years,  have  confused  my  thoughts;  and 
lia\(>  disabli'd  me  to  writ(>  without  se\"ere  ])hysical  sutfer- 
in<4-,  or  to  converse  without  stanimerin<j^.  After  the  first, 
ditiidence  was  increased,  and  1)ecame  distressing;-;  so  that, 
on  ])ublic  occasions,  particulai'ly.  my  thou<ihts  were  wont 
to  forsake  me,  and  to  put  me  to  open  shame. 

It  may  not  be.  here,  im])roper  to  describe  the  minds  of 
those  who  have  so  unmercifully,  and  so  lon<>'  a  while,  jier- 
secuted  me.  It  '\\ill  i>o  to  develoj)  their  triu*  characters  ; 
and  to  show  the  unreliability  of  their  statements.  ]Most 
of  them,  jud<;in<i:  from  what  my  eyes  have  seen  and  ears 
heard,  are  aspirin*!^  demagogues,  or  avaricious  and  sordid 
speculators  ;  and  have  but  little  love  for  their  lu-ighbors, 
but  little  loAC  of  nu^rcy.  Pursuing-  after  worldly  lujuors 
or  riches,  they  tread  down  evcn-y  ])erson  in  the  way  to 
tlu^se  highest  objec-ts  of  their  ambition.  Their  best  acts, 
only  show  the  deep  depraNity  of  their  unregenerate  na- 
tures ;  and  an  entire  want  of  [)urity  of  heart  and  magna- 
nimity which  exem{)lify  tlu;  principles  of  Christianit)". 
A^'ith  their  tongiu^s.  they  profess  a  veneration  for  the 
laws  and  institutions  of  the  empire  of  Christ;  bui,  their 
conduct  whollv  exinces  a  disregard  of  thein.  I  have 
never  discovered,  among-  tlirir  mental  endowments,  the 
least  of  that  ])hilaiitliropic  eiu^rgy  which  gives  impetus 
to  benevolent  enterprise  ;  and  makes  one  bold  to  ex[)osc 
the  ways  of  tyrants,  and  strong  to  vindicate  the  rights  of 
man.  They  are  full  of  hypocrisy,  pretending  to  know 
little  or  uotliing  of  my  maiiii(>r  of  life,  when,  in  truth, 
thev  know  much  about  it.  My  p(n-formaiiccs  liavc>  been 
on  open  and  liigh  ground,  ami  in  daylight,  before  them. 
Books,  i)ainphlets,  luwspaper  essays,  and  a  hundred 
tongu(\s,  have  been  the  heraitls  proclaiming  in  their  cars 
my  ca])abilities,  enterprises  and  aciilevements. 

Unfortunately,  in  some  respects  for  me,  there  existed 
among  the  iuhcrent  qualities  of  my  mind,  power  and  dis- 


86 


j)osition  to  bcfririul  my  ronntrymon,  and  to  brcnk  away 
the  liold  Avliich  tlie  rupidity  of  tlio  Hudson  Bay  ('onipany 
had  fixed  ui)on  (^uuh-a's  Ishiiul.  It  was  this,  that  ahirined 
them;  {iml  tliey  soiiuht  bj-  every  strata^'em  and  device  to 
crusli  that  po^^el■  and  (hs[)osition.  Tliis  is  the  secret  of 
the  whoh'  nmtter. 

It  is  not  t?tian<2;e,  Congress  men  shonhl  find  it  difficult 
to  understand  my  merits,  since  so  few  espouse  my  cause, 
and  so  many  ennniiij^  and  j»ow(U'ful  men  misrepresent  and 
defame  my  clinracttn'.  How  my  wearied  spirit  woukl  feel 
cheered,  and  (hink  in  consolation,  should  even  one  of  the 
illustrious  delegates  of  this  great  nation,  assend)led  at 
AVashington,  invc^stigatc  and  understand  the  things  I 
allege  to  have  suti'ered  and  done,  and  attempted  to  do ; 
and  in  his  })lace,  should  exi)ress  sympathy  for  me ;  and 
advocate  my  cause,  but  no  pitying  voice  is  heard  in  my 
behalf;   and  no  tear  has  i'allen  for  me. 

I  live  on.  like  some  aged  oak,  lonely,  on  some  bleak 
summit,  withstanding  storms  and  tempests,  and  smitten 
by  thunderbolts,  a  branchless  trunk.  By  the  help  of 
God  I  li\  <'  on  ;  suffering  poverty,  the  loss  of  health,  and 
the  berea\  ement  of  companion  and  children,  and  a  per- 
secution, terrible  :  and,  in  resi)ect  to  duration  and  the 
number  of  powerful  and  cruel  ])erpctrators,  doubtless, 
unparalleled  in  this  age  and  country. 


} 


°3a 


I 


1 

i 


1 


•mm 


ak  away 
^'oinpaiiy 
t  aliinned 
ik'vico  to 
secret  of 

;  clifKciilt 
ly  cause, 
'Sent  and 
ould  feel 
le  of  tlie 
nbled  at 
liings  I 
to  do ; 
no;  and 
d  in  my 

10  bleak 
smitten 
help  of 
th,  and 
a  pcr- 
md  the 
ubtless, 


APPENDIX. 


A.- 

To  hasten  the  universality  of  Christian  civilization  and  freeJoni  was 
very  near  tiic  leailiiig  ol)j('ct  of  my  travels  through  the  Mexican  domin- 
ioiis.  Of  course,  I  was  unlike  the  many  travellers  in  foreign  countries, 
who  write  useless  hooks;  untliinking,  unknowing,  unohserving,  and 
idle,  indiifercnt  to  every  thing  ahout  tiiem,  hut  what  administers  to 
self,  and  the  little  things  which  usually  attract  the  attention,  and  gratify 
the  curiosity  or  propensities  of  little  minds. 

Enough  of  facts  have  heen  detailed,  on  the  preceding  pages,  to  show 
tlie  objects  for  which  I  have  lived  ;  enough  can  he  cited  from  my 
journals,  to  show  to  what  cause  has  been  the  entire  devotion  of  soul 
and  body,  the  most  of  life  ;  and  enough  from  my  correspondence  with 
distinguislied  and  magnanimous-minded  individuals,  to  satisfy  of  the 
good  planned  and  attempted  for  those  inhabiting  the  dark  regions  of 
tlie  earth.  However,  without  a  particular  desire  to  magnify  self- 
imjiortance,  1  will  give  a  few  extnicts  from  tlie  journal  of  my  travels 
to  Oregon,  to  remove  from  my  character  the  vile  aspersions  which  vile 
men  have  cast  upon  it. 

From  a  letter  to  tbc  Second  Comptroller  of  tlie  United  States  Treasury,  dated 
City  of  Mexico,  August  •2\,  183.'}. 

"I  am  making  arrangements  to  leave  immediately  for  San  Bias, 
expecting,  on  the  way,  no  '  |irotection  by  virtue  of  the  laws  of  the  land  ; 
no  otiier  than  the  kind  which  vultures  give  to  lambs,  taking  and  de- 
vouring them'  —  no  other  carllily  security  than  such  as  will  be  afTordcd 
hy  unarmed  servants,  and  my  personal  defensive  weapons. 

"  Ahout  twenty  days  ago,  the  cholera,  in  its  fearful  and  desolating 
march,  reached  this  city,  and  has  slain  thousands.  In  the  space  of 
five  days,  four  thousand  persons  are  said  to  liave  died.  A  remedy 
brought  with  me,  furnished  hy  W'illiam  Darrah,  M.  D.,  Professor  of 
Principles  and  Practice  of  Medicine  in  Pennsylvania  Medical  College, 
Philad(Mphia,  has  saved,  it  is  belicveil,  the  lives  of  some  thousands  of 
the  higher  class  of  population.  For  the  poor  who  fill  the  streets,  there 
seems  no  escape  from  death.     Their  condition,  and  that  of  those  in  all 


88 


h 


i| 


the  villages,  is  truly  (Ifplornblo.  Slpfpiiij^  upon  flic  frrnund  hrtwofii 
rush  mats  or  filthy  blaiikcts,  witlwiut  physicians  or  niodiciiics,  or  I'vcii 
knowledge  of  means  for  rrlicf,  liicy  an-  piTiiiiarly  cNpuscd  t(j  tin; 
terrible  destroyer.  The  work  ol'  ileutii  ;^oes  on  among  them  undp- 
poscd. 

"(len.  Santa  Ainia  has  found  in  the  monster  a  formidable  enemy, 
irresistible  in  atta<'k,  and  (;niel  in  vietory.  There;  were  slain  !)y  that 
foe,  near  (Jiiadlajara,  in  one  battle,  over  two  thousand  of  his  army; 
and  many  who  escaped  \v<'re  panic-struck,  and  are  deserting.  The 
patriotic  and  intre|)id  <feneral  is  makiuif  a  new  draft,  and  will  be  able, 
I  trust,  to  |)Ut  down  his  rebellious  yc7/ow-fi7/;CHS,  though  (Jen.  Arista 
and  Col.  Duran  lead  them. 

"  The  civil  oulhreaks  and  commotions  constantly  occurring  in  IVIexico 
are  not  likely  ever  to  result  in  any  benelicial  cll'ects  to  the  people. 
The  fundamental  principles  of  g(n"ornm{;nt  must  be  dillerent,  more  in 
harmony  with  the  principles  of  Christianity.  The  policy  of  the  g(n'ern- 
ing  power  nnist  be  changed.  I'nder  present  circumstances,  while  the 
wholt!  nation  is  living  in  sottish  ignorance,  without  schools  for  tlie  youth, 
and  without  a  heaven-taught  ministry,  unenligiilened  and  inexperienced, 
as  to  practical  fri'e(k)m  and  the  blessings  of  (.'hristian  civilization,  that 
])olicy  should  be   more  arbitrary,  and  the  government  less  re|)ublican. 

"When  the  consununation  of  the  happy  state  of  things  comes, — 
and  would  to  (Jod  it  wijuld  speedily  come, —  that  Mexico  is  regcme- 
ratcd ;  and  only  by  tiie  general  ditl'usion  of  education  and  useful 
knowledge,  and  iiy  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  — with  the  strongest 
emphasis,  1  say,  by  the  promulgation  of  the  religion  of  .Fesus  Cin'ist 
in  its  purity,  can  she  be  burn  again.  Then  may  there  be  less  arbitrary 
sway,  and  more  freedom  ;  then  bloody  internal  contests  will  cease, 
the  rights  of  man  be  supported,  and  the  peace  of  the  nation  great  and 
enduring. 

"  Mexico  should  have  more  light,  and  the  sympathy  of  neighbors. 
Other  nations  should  help  her.  It  would  he  right,  that  her  elder  sister 
re[)ublic,  the  powerful  and  opulent  United  States,  should  help  her,  and 
make  her  a  loan  of  a  few  millions  of  money,  to  be  applied  exclusively 
in  laying  the  foundation  of  freedom  just  I'escribed.  Unless  such  a 
foun(lation  is  laid  ;  and  the  monsters,  ignorance  and  su|)erstition,  are 
driven  from  the  land,  political  delusions,  clandestine  disorders,  war, 
and  bloodshed  and  human  sulferings  will  continue;  and  she  will  remain 
heathenish  and  accursed,  even  unto  the  time  when  the  angel  of  God  will 
announce  to  the  world,  time  is  no  more." 

Education.  —  B^xpecting  to  find  in  Mexico  the  system  of  education 
extremely  defective,  I  went  prepared  to  make,  or  rather  to  suggest, 
improvements.  I  was  well  qualified  for  it,  having  been  myself  a 
teacher,  most  of  the  time,  from  the  age  of  sixteen  years  to  that  of 
thirty-three  ;  and  myself  having  made  improvements  in  the  art  of 
teaching.  It  was  desirable  to  see  adopted,  there,  the  excellent  system 
of  instruction  practised  in  some  parts  of  New  England,  where,  moral, 
mental,  and  physical  instruction  are  measurably  united  ;  and  where,  the 


1 

I 


ssen 


f 


89 


(1  I)ot\vt'rn 
's,  or  c'V('u 

!l'(l  \i)  tl|(j 
KIM     Ulll>|)- 

li'  f'lic'iiiy, 
ill  hy  tliiit 
his  army  ; 
iii^'.  Tlio 
1  1)0  able, 
(Ml.  Arista 

in  Mexico 
le  [)('()|tle. 
t,  iiiorc  in 
10  ffovorn- 
wliilo  tlio 
till- youth, 
lorioiicod, 
itioii,  tliiit 

■|)lll)lic!Ul. 

[ponies,  — 

S    I'OgOIIO- 

iid  useful 
stroiigosl. 
us  Christ 
iirljitraiy 
ill  cease, 
great  and 

Mglibors. 

er  sister 

ler,  and 

usively 

such  a 

ion,  are 

rs,  war, 

remain 

God  will 


ucation 
suggest, 
lyself   a 

that  of 
art   of 

system 

moral, 
ere,  the 


niiiiil  is  iKJi  matured  at  the  ixpeiiso  of  the;  body,  uiid  mind  and  body 
an:  invigorated  with  wholi'Sduii!  exercise  ;  and  the  pupil  comes  into 
manhood  with  health  :md  strength,  evincing  in  his  avocation  skill  and 
dexterity. 

The  same  benevolent  gentleman  who  furnished  the  prescription 
lor  treating  tiie  cholera,  also,  favored  nie  with  pamphlets  and  jiapers, 
developing  the  plan  of  tin;  Manual  Labor  Academy  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  system  of  discipline  and  instruction  in  that  institution  seemed 
preferable  to  that  in  any  other  of  my  enlightened  land.  This  plan 
and  system  were  communicated  to  Richard  M.  Jones,  Esq.,  Principal 
of  the  State  Institute,  at  (luadlajara,  in  which  youth  were  taught  on  the 
Laiicasterian  mode  of  instruction.  Mr.  .Jones  was  satisfied  of  its  pre- 
eminent advantages,  and  engaged  to  exert  his  influence  for  its  general 
adoption  in  that  country.  I  was  particular  to  explain  it  to  other  foreign- 
ers in  other  cities,  whose  intelligence  and  positions  gave  tiicin  influence 
with  the  loading  citizens. 

VACCINATION     AMONO    THE     MEXICAN     INDIANS. 

I  received  from  the  benevolent  hands  of  N.  II.  Smith,  M.  D.,  of 
Baltimore,  and  William  Morton,  M.  D.,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  a  supply 
of  vaccine  matter,  which  was  carefully  applied  to  the  benefit  of 
Mexicans. 

SOME    OF    THE    THINGS    WHICH    LED    TO   THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    THE 
WILD    PARTS    OF    ALTA    CALIFOUNIA. 

I  had  conceived  it  to  be  within  the  scope  of  my  means,  to  colonize 
the  upper  parts  of  Calil'ornia,  and  to  do  as  much  for  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  settlements  there,  as  for  those  I  should  make  further 
north  ;  and  intended,  on  reaching  the  metropolis  of  Mexico,  to  apply 
for  the  powers  of  an  cinpresarias,  but  found  in  that  countrj''  my  state 
of  health  such,  and  the  state  of  public  atlairs  such,  as  forbid  a  direct 
application  to  the  government.  I  had,  however,  conferences  with 
iiniividuals  upon  the  subject,  —  with  Col.  A.  Yhary,  Col.  Qucvido,  and 
other  distinguished  public  men.  My  proposition  was  favorably  re- 
ceived, and  1  was  encouraged  to  hope  the  right  of  colonizing  would 
be  secured  to  me  by  charter.  Col.  Yhary  assured  me  it  would  be  on 
certain  conditions,  such  as  we  had  conversed  about,  and  as  were 
unobjectionable  on  my  part. 

fjxtracts  from  a  letter,  dated  Nov.  1,  1833,  Guadlajara,  Al  Exrno.  Sor. 
Don  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna  Presedante  de  los  Estados  Unidos 
Mexicanos. 

"  A  few  days  before  leaving  the  City  of  Mexico,  Col.  A.  Yhary  and 

another   gentleman   attachec    to   t'le    army,  with  patriotic   intentions 

inquired  to  know  the  terms   ou  \  hich  I  would  engage  to  introduce 

settlers  into  Alta  California.     I  was  very  ready  to  give  an  answer,  and 

12 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^  >^ 


1.0 


1.1 


l^m    |25 


140 


■  2.0 

M 


■•25  III  1.4   1 1.6 

< 

6"     

^ 

'^ 

t  *" 


// 


'/ 


/^ 


Hiotographic 

Sdences 

Corporalion 


33  WIST  IM.»4  i,fRf  i^ 

WnSTIR.N.Y.  MSM 

(716)  •72-4903 


'^'^1^    ^ 

^U"" 


90 


i 


to  converse  upon  a  suhjeot  wliirli  was  so  in  accordance  witli  tlic  feelings 
of  my  heart. 

"The  country  adjoining  on  tlio  nortli,  is  the  Oregon  Territory,  wl-.icii 
it  has  been  the  sole  object  ot"  my  lal)()rs,  for  several  years  |)ast,  to  o'i)o- 
nize,  anil  am  now  on  my  way  thither  to  cunsiunmate  my  plans. 

"  I  have  collected  much  <rfuj^raphical  information  of  Oregon,  and 
some  of  California.  That  of  the  former  has  been  published  in  a  book, 
copies  of  which  are  in  the  possession  of  the  gentlemen  to  whom  I  have 
made  allusion.  Alta  California,  in  its  physical  character,  is  doubtless 
much  like  that  of  Oregon,  and  is  a  delij^htful  country  ;  and,  when 
occupied  by  an  enlightened  people,  instructed  in  the  principles  and 
precepts  of  Christianity,  and  skilled  in  the  various  business  and  callings 
of  civilized  life,  will  become  a  valuable  and  interesting  portion  of  the 
Mexican  empire. 

"  The  conditions  of  a  charter,  under  which  I  have  proposed  to  settle 
the  northern  wilds  of  Mexico,  are  as  follows  : 

"First. — To  be  under  the  obligations  and  responsibilities  of  an 
empresarias,  and  to  have  the  rights,  privileges,  and  immunities  here 
following,  described  ;  and  to  settle  that  part  of  Alta  California,  situ- 
ated between  the  37th  and  4*2d  parallels,  and  extending  from  the 
Ocean  to  the  Colorado  lliver, 

"Second.  —  The  empresarias,  at  his  own  expense,  to  cause  the 
territory  to  be  accurately  surveyed,  and  a  map  to  be  constructed  ;  and 
to  uh'ike  such  divisions  of  the  'ands  as  may  be  found  best  ada|)ted  to 
the  convenience  and  occu|  ney  of  settlers,  and  to  public  utility  ;  in  all 
instances,  to  identify  'he  luundaries  of  each  section  or  lot  with  merid- 
ional lines  and  parallels. 

"  Fourth.  —  To  have  full  powers  to  treat  with  the  occupying  Indians, 
and  to  extinguish  their  land  titles,  giving  to  each  Inilian,  male  or  female 
over  the  age  of  sixteen  ye.'irs,  in  part  relinipiishment  of  their  claim  to 
the  territory,  a  lot  of  land  ;  the  same  in  dimensions  as  shall  be  drawn 
by  any  settler.  The  Indians  respectively  to  hold  without  the  right  of 
alienating  their  titles  to  persons  not  of  their  blood  and  tribe  or  nation. 

"Fifth.  —  To  provide  for  the  intellectual  and  moral  improvement 
of  the  Indians. 

"  Sixth.  —  To  have  the  right,  whenever  ihi;  good  of  the  settlements 
may  .•equire,  to  lay  out  and  construct  common  roads,  railroads,  and 
canals.  In  any  case  of  a  canal,  the  empresarias  to  have  a  strip  of 
land  on  each  side,  not  exceeding  one  fourth  of  a  league  ;  and  in  case 
of  a  railroad,  to  have  a  strip  on  each  side,  not  exceeding  three  fourths 
of  a  league,  in  addition  to  the  rights  and  privileges  otherwise  char- 
tered to  him. 

"  Fiighth.  —  Any  vessel  arriving  in  any  port  v.^ilhin  said  territory, 
and  bringing  thirty  or  more  settUu-s,  to  enter  free  of  all  port  charges  ; 
and  any  vessel  trading  regularly  and  directly  bc^tween  said  territory 
and  any  settlement  in  Oregon,  made  by  said  empresarias,  until  said 
settlement  shall  conv^  under  national  jurisdiction,  to  enter  free  of  all 
port  charges." 


I 


91 


ATTEMPTS     FOtt    A    MINUTK    EXPLORATION    OF     \LTA    CALIFORNIA. 

The  portion  of  Culiforiiia  iiortluvartl  of  tli(;  Juntiuin  Rivor,  oxcopting 
some  spots  at  and  near  the  Hay  of  San  Francisco,  us  lain  as  1834, 
rcniainod  unsettled,  (lontcinpiatinir  its  colonization,  I  had  sevnrftl 
interviews,  while  ut  Monterey,  in  the  smniner  of  that  year,  with 
Cren.  Figueroa,  the  (Jovernor  of  tin;  Califcjrnias,  1  was  desirous 
of  puhlic  patrunafie  and  his  co-operation  ;  and,  also,  of  ujikin;jj  such 
niinut«J  explorations  as  would  atlorl  a  cornsct  knowhidge  of  the;  topojf- 
raphy  and  capahilitios  of  the  country,  and  enable  me  t(.i  delineate  its 
prominent  features  upon  a  map,  preparatory  to  the  introduction  of 
settlers  from  a  distant  land  into  that  re<;ion. 

The  following  is  a  reply  to  a  letter  upon  the  subject,  addressed  by 
UK!  to  the  ifovernor. 


^"^^^  "  Ks  muy  laudai)Ie  ol  pensamiento  de  V.  y  mny  ilifjno  de  su 
J  L  s.  5  ilustracion  el  proyecto,  de  re(M)nose.\  los  terrenos  incidtos  de 
;Kvv^^>t(  este  Territoris  hsista  la  linea  donde  confma  la  Hepubliea  para 
levantar  un  niapa  esaeto  (pie  de  a  conoser  al  mmido  geo^raliciMHiite, 
la  cituacion,  producciones,  y  deniiis  clensentos  di;  rijruera  (K;  (|ue  es 
susceptible  csto  pais,  y  (pie  nun  son  descoiiosidos.  Muclm  plaser 
tondria  yo  en  contribiiir  a  inios  descubrimientos  tan  iinportanies,  pero 
me  encucntir  sin  facnitades  para  protefer  la  euipresa,  por  es'ar 
rcservntlas  al  supremo  (lovierno  (Jeneral  tanto  el  concedcr  la  licencia 
para  levantar  niapas,  coino  el  decretar  la  erogacion  <le  gastos  en  csa 
(>  cuales(piiera  oira  enipresa. 

''  Kn  tal  conce|it(»,  y  en  el  de  rpie  deseo  vivaniente  los  adelantos  de 
mi  patria,  reconocido  ala  generosa  disposicion  (pie  \^  m(!  inanitiesta 
j)ara  em|<render  una  obra  tan  dificil,  coino  arriesgada,  y  disp(Midiosa, 
soy  de  sentir  (pic  su  |)roy(;eto,  lo  somcta  ala  deliveracion  del  supremo 
(Jovierno  a(pii('n  yo  protesio  remitirb*  y  recommidarlo  con  el  tm|»('no 
que  on  mi  concepto  nuM'oce  ;  pero  esto  no  lo  verificare  hasta  que  V.  ino 
conteste  si  es  o  no  couforuK?,  y  se  propone  aguanhir  la  resolucion. 

"  Teiigo  el  honor  de  protestar  a  V.  mircepeto  y  consideracion. 

"  Dios  y  Lib('rtad.     Montei(,'y,  'Zit  do  Junio,  <\o.  IH',]\. 


"  Sor.  Di»n  IIai.l  J.  Kei.lkv.'' 


"Josr,  Fic.niciioA. 


[Tr;ins]iUi(iii  of  tiio  procoding  letler.] 

^  ^^'^  "  Your  thought  is  very  laudable,  and  very  worthy  of  your 
i  h.  s.  >  illustration  is  the  project  of  surveying  the  uncultivated  landa 
5^^^^^^v^^t£  of  this  territory  as  far  as  the  boundary  line  of  the  Republic, 
for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  map  which  would  geographically 
show  the  world  the  situation,  productions,  and  other  elements  of  wealth 
of  which  this  country  is  susceptible,  and  which,  as  yet,  are  unknown. 

"•  [  shall  feel  much   pleased  in  contributing  towards  such  important 
discoveries  ;  but  [  fmd  myself  without  faculties  to  protect  the  under- 


B2 


taking,  it  being  reserved  to  the  supreme  government,  us  well  tlie 
granting  of  license  to  construct  maps,  us  the  furnishing  of  funds  for 
this  or  ony  other  undertaking. 

"  Therefore,  and  because  I  earnestly  desire  the  prosperity  of  my 
country,  grateful  for  tiie  generous  disposition  which  you  have  mani- 
fested to  undertake  a  work  as  difficult  us  dangerous  and  expensive,  I 
am  of  opinion  you  should  submit  your  project  to  the  supreme  govern- 
ment, to  which  I  will  remit  it  and  recommend  it  with  the  efficacy  it 
deserves  ;  but  this  I  shall  not  do  until  you  inform  me  whether  it  will 
be  agreeable  to  you,  and  whether  you  propose  to  wait  the  answer. 

"  1  have  the  honor  to  assure  you  of  my  respect  and  consideration. 

'^  God  und  Liberty.     Monterey,  June  226,  lb34. 


Senor  Don  Hall  J.  Eeli.et." 


'Jose  Figueroa. 


I 


i^'--'* 


^* 


I 


%y 


v,.^^* 


}  well   the 
f  funds  for 

rity  of  my 
lavc  mani- 
spensive,  I 
ne  govern- 
efficucy  it 
ther  it  will 
iswer. 
Jcration. 

GUEROA. 


